IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
GITA GOPI, J.
Faibaben Jagubhai Khachar - Appellant
Versus
Mansukhbhai Kalubhai Vaghela - Defendant
R/First Appeal No. 635 of 2022
Decided On : 10-10-2022
Compensation - Motor Vehicles Act - Section 140 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - The court discussed the claimants' challenge to the compensation granted and the entitlement to the compensation amount. The court considered the evidence presented, including the medical bills, and remanded the case to the Tribunal for further proceedings and evidence to be produced.
Fact of the Case:
The claimants challenged the compensation granted for the death of Jagabhai Merambhai due to a road accident. The claimants sought to establish the entitlement to the compensation amount.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the evidence presented, including medical bills, raised questions about the entitlement to the compensation amount and the need for further evidence, such as the death certificate, to be produced.
Issues: The issues included the challenge to the compensation granted, the entitlement to the compensation amount, and the need for additional evidence, such as the death certificate, to be produced.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the lack of certain evidence, such as the death certificate, and the need for further proceedings and evidence to be produced before reaching a final decision on the compensation amount.
Final Decision: The case was remanded back to the Tribunal for the production of the death certificate and for further evidence to be presented within five months.
ORDER :
1. Ms. Falguni Trivedi, learned advocate for the appellants submits that the claimants are challenging the order dated 24.5.2019 pronounced in MACP No.727/13 when the compensation granted is only Rs.50,000/- by the Tribunal when it was a specific case that Jagabhai Merambhai had died due to accident during the treatment. Ms. Trivedi submits that the learned Tribunal ought to have believed the examination-in-chief of the applicant no.3 - father of the deceased who had very categorically stated that his son was traveling from Tramba to Rajkot in his rickshaw on 19.11.2012 at 8-00 p.m. in a moderate speed with all caution on the correct side of the road. A luxury bus no.GJ-4 Z-514 came in an excessive speed and dashed the rickshaw from behind and as a result, the deceased lost control over the rickshaw and sustained serious injuries. Ms. Trivedi submits that father had stated that thereafter, the son was hospitalized and during the course of treatment, he died. Over and above chief examination, the claimants had produced FIR, Panchnama, school leaving certificate of the deceased, driving license of the bus driver, R.C. Book of bus no.GJ-4 Z-514 and medical bills below Exh.24 in support of the contention. After relying on the medical certificate at Exh.23 which showed that Jagabhai Merambhai sustained grievous injuries and the charge sheet was also filed against driver of the bus no. GJ-4 Z-514 and on that basis, the learned Tribunal came to the conclusion that the accident took place because of the sole negligence on the part of bus driver and because of the accident, Jagabhai Merambhai sustained grievous injuries and accordingly, issue no.1 was answered in affirmative.
2. Ms. Falguni Trivedi submits that issue no.2 was raised regarding the entitlement of the right of the applicants to the compensation amount. While deciding the issue, the learned Tribunal had observed the fact that Jagabhai Merambhai has sustained grievous injuries in the accident and he was receiving the treatment. Ms. Falguni Trivedi submits that the father has clearly stated about the death of the deceased Jagabhai Merambhai, but the death certificate could not be produced on record. The learned Tribunal also considered that since in absence of the post-mortem report, the death of person does not get reflected nor the charge sheet reflects the death of Jagabhai Merambhai and hence, no report was filed by the I.O. for adding sections after the charge sheet and further the learned Tribunal making contrary observation has observed that the claimants have produced bills of Jagabhai Merambhai, but there is no document which could show that Jagabhai Merambhai had died due to accident or in the midst of the treatment. While the learned Tribunal has found from the documentary evidence that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the opponent no.1, while the claimants have not produced any disability certificate of the deceased nor the evidence of death, but has placed reliance on the medical bills of Jagabhai Merambhai worth Rs.3,42,810.62 and concluded that the entire record reflects that Jagabhai Merambhai has previous injuries due to the accident and therefore, the learned Tribunal awarded a lumpsum amount of Rs.50,000/-, while deducting the amount of Rs.25,000/- which was passed under Section 140 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
3. Ms. Falguni Trivedi submits that the claimants as legal heirs of Jagabhai Merambhai had filed the claim petition. The very fact itself suggests that the death of the deceased was accidental. However, Ms. Falguni Trivedi submits that the learned Tribunal had to take appropriate steps by calling for the death certificate which would certainly have been registered before the competent authority, which in this case is Talati-cum-Mantri, Chanpa/Kherdi Gram Panchayat. Ms. Trivedi submits that the claim petition is required to be filed under format form and no further details could be added and since the deceased had i
The main legal point established is the requirement for the production of necessary evidence, such as the death certificate, and the need for further proceedings and evidence to be produced before re....
Accident claim - Compensation in case of death - In the death case, the multiplier should be considered on the basis of the age of the deceased.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the right of legal representatives, including major married and earning sons of the deceased, to apply for compensation in motor accident cases.
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