Point of Law: Motor Vehicle – Additional Compensation regarding Income Tax return - Income Tax Department has accepted the returns filed by the deceased. Therefore, this Court is not inclined to interfere into that - appellant is directed to pay Rs. 21,90,040/-only to claimant respondent. Tribunal is also directed that two specific amounts shall be kept fixed deposited in Bank for certain period

JUDGMENT :

Heard Ms. R. D. Mozumder, the learned counsel appearing for the appellant as well as Mr. P.D. Nair and Mr. A.J. Sharma, the learned counsel appearing for the respondent.

2. The instant appeal is filed under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (hereinafter referred to as “MV Act”) is preferred against the judgment and award dated 30.08.2016, passed by the learned Member, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Nagaon, Assam in MAC Case No. 176/2014. This appeal has been filed for enhancement of award.

3. On 07.07.2013, at about 6.20 PM, late Bimal Kr. Saikia was waiting for a bus on NH-37. He was standing left side of the road in order to take the bus ride back home. At that time, the vehicle bearing registration No. AS-01/K-8766, which was coming from Koliabor side towards Nagaon knocked down the deceased. He was immediately shifted to Civil Hospital at Nagaon but he succumbed to his injury there. It is alleged that the accident took place because of the rash and negligent driving of the aforesaid vehicle.

4. The owner and the driver of the said vehicle contested the case by filing written statement. They claim that their vehicle was insured by the appellant Insurance Company vide Policy No. 321201/31/2013/8558, valid up to 24.01.2014.

5. The Insurance Company contested the case by filing a written statement. They pleaded stereotype grounds and submitted that the Insurance Company is not liable to pay compensation.

6. On the basis of the pleadings, the learned Tribunal framed the following issues for adjudication:

(i) Whether the claim petition is maintainable?

(ii) Whether the accident occurred due to rash an negligent driving of the driver of vehicle no. AS-01/K-8766?

(iii) Whether the claimant is entitled to receive compensation and if so to what extent and who is liable to pay the same?

(iv) To what relief/reliefs are the parties entitled?

7. The respondent examined one witness. The appellant as well as the owner and driver did not adduce any evidence. On the basis of the evidence on record the Tribunal arrived at the impugned finding.

8. On the basis of the Income Tax return for the financial year 2013-14, the monthly income of the deceased was held to be Rs. 12,619/-only. Mrs. R.D. Mozumdar, the learned counsel for the appellant objected to this fact. The Tribunal had considered aggregate the Income Tax return for the financial year 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 and held that the aggregate annual income of the deceased was Rs. 1,51,430/-only and therefore, the monthly income was held to be Rs. 12,619.19./-Mrs. R.D. Mozumder submitted that in the claim petition the age of the deceased has been stated as 40 years and for that matter, the future prospect should have been held at 40% only, not 50% as held by the Tribunal. Regarding the consortium, funeral expenses, loss of care and guidance for children, Mrs. Mozumder has referred to the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in National Insurance Company Limited -Vs-Praynay Sethi and Others reported in (2017) 16 SCC 680. Mrs. Mozumder submitted on the aforesaid heads the claimant is entitled to Rs. 70,000/-only.

9. I have given my anxious consideration to the submission made by the learned counsel for the parties.

10. Here in this case, the deceased was 40 years old therefore, the multiplier should have been 15 and the Tribunal has correctly held the multiplier.

11. So far the income is concerned, I have reasons to hold that the Tribunal had correctly appreciated the evidence and held the monthly income is to be Rs. 12,619/-. This Court in MAC App. No. 135/2018, has held that being beneficial legislation, in a claim case under the Motor Vehicle Act strict proof of income Tax Return may not be mandatory in all circumstances.

12. In the case in hand the Income Tax Department has accepted the returns filed by the deceased. Therefore, this Court is not inclined to interfere int