IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE H.K.RATHOD
UNION OF INDIA THROUGH GENERAL MANAGER - Appellant
Versus
ASHOKBHAI GOVINDBHAI PATNI - Defendant
FIRST APPEAL No. 2760 of 2009
With
CIVIL APPLICATION No. 7595 of 2009
Decided on : 21/07/2009
Railways Act, 1989 - Section 123(c)(2) - Railway Claims Tribunal Act - Section 124(A) - Compensation claim - Appellant Union of India has challenged award passed by Railway Claims Tribunal - Railway Claims Tribunal has awarded amount with 6% running interest from date of petition till realization of awarded compensation - It was contended that incident is not covered as an untoward incident as defined in the Act - Held, Had the Tribunal not delayed the matter for so long, the appellants would have been entitled to the beneficial interest of the amount awarded from a much earlier date and we see no reason why they should be deprived of such benefit - As we have indicated earlier, payment of interest is basically compensation for being denied the use of the money during the period 23 which the same could have been made available to the claimants - In our view, both the Tribunal, as also the High Court, were wrong in not granting any interest whatsoever to the appellants, except by way of a default clause, which is contrary to the established principles relating to payment of interest on money claims - First appeal is dismissed.
1. Heard learned advocate Mr.K.N.Shastri for appellant and learned advocate Mr.Mahesh B.Shah for respondent.
2. In this appeal, the appellant Union of India has challenged award passed by Railway Claims Tribunal, Ahmedabad bench in case No. OA 0100024, dated 31.8.2007. The Railway Claims Tribunal has awarded Rs.1,20,000/- with 6% running interest from date of petition till realization of awarded compensation.
3. Learned advocate Mr.Shastri has raised contention before this Court that claimant has not made out any case of amount under provisions of Railways Act, 1989. He also raised contention before this Court that incident is not covered as an untoward incident as defined in Section 123(c)(2) of the Railways Act,1989. Learned advocate Mr.Shastri also submitted it was a negligence on part of claimant and due to that, accident is occurred. For that, railway authority is not responsible at all. He also raised one contention before this Court that in respect to interest, one FA No.4958 of 2007 is admitted by this Court on 25.10.2007 where submission made by learned advocate Mr.B.I.Mehta that Tribunal has committed error in awarding interest from date of application in view of judgment delivered in FA No.24 of 2002 with CA No.70 of 2002 in case between Union of India v. Babulal Gangavat. Therefore, this appeal be also admitted.
4. Learned advocate Mr.Shah submitted that Railway Claims Tribunal has rightly examined matter on basis of evidence on record. The appellant has not led any oral evidence before claims Tribunal and evidence of claimant remained unchallenged and no documentary evidence was produced on record by appellant. Therefore, he submitted that claims Tribunal has decided matter on basis of evidence on record and because of injury, claimant's right foot was crushed and said foot was amputated from mid of the foot including toes. This has been proved by oral evidence supported by physical handicapped certificates as well as photographs of claimant. Therefore, he submitted that claims Tribunal has not committed any error which requires interference by this Court. He also submitted that question of interest has been rightly decided by claims Tribunal and appellant has not raised any contention before claims Tribunal in respect to interest that railway claims Tribunal is not competent or having jurisdiction to award interest in favour of claimant. Therefore, claims Tribunal has decided matter according to law and no interference is required by this Court.
5. I have considered submissions made by both learned advocates and also perused award passed by claims Tribunal. The accident occurred on 11.6.2000. The claimant purchased railway tickets bearing No.34039650 from Ahmedabad railway station for Palanpur. The application was filed under Section 124(A) of Railway Claims Tribunal Act. As soon as claimant tried to get into Memu train, due to jerk of train and push of other passengers, he fell down between train and platform and sustained serious injury on his foot and various part of his body. According to claimant, there was crush injury on both feet and other part of body and, therefore, total claim of compensation of Rs.2 lacs was made from railway authority. The railway authority has filed reply against claim petition filed by claimant. Merely raising a contention that accident is not covered by untoward incident under Section 123(c)(2) of the Railways Act,1989. Thereafter, issues have been framed by claims Tribunal and matter has been considered on basis of evidence by claims Tribunal. The claimant filed claim petition for injury to his right foot as well as various parts of body on account of falling down from train. The claimant also filed affidavit in evidence along with certain documents including ticket, police papers, panchnama, photographs etc. The respondent means present appellant has not adduced any evidence to support resistance in form of written statement. Thereafter, claims Tribunal has examined claim
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