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2025 Supreme(Raj) 1685
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN, BENCH AT JAIPUR
ASHUTOSH KUMAR, J.
Amar Singh S/o Shri Kalyan Singh - Appellant
Versus
Rohitash Kumar S/o Shri Kedarmal - Respondent
S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 4528/2024
Decided On : 26-03-2025
Advocates Appeared :
For the Appellant : Mr. Bhanu Prakash, Adv.
For the Respondent : Mr. Rajdeep Singh Rathore, Adv. for Mr. Chandredeep Singh Jodha, Adv.
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : Mr. Bhanu Prakash, Adv.
For the Respondent: Mr. Rajdeep Singh Rathore, Adv. for Mr. Chandredeep Singh Jodha, Adv.
Compensation for motor accident injuries must address both physical and non-pecuniary losses, ensuring fair restoration to the claimant's pre-accident position.
Headnote:
(A) Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - Sections 173 and 183 - Compensation for injuries in motor accidents - The court emphasized that compensation must address both physical injuries and non-pecuniary losses, ensuring a full restoration to the claimant's pre-accident position. (Paras 12, 13, 15)
(B) Just Compensation - The determination of just compensation requires fair and equitable principles, avoiding excessive or inadequate awards. (Paras 12, 15)
Facts of the case:
The case involved a motor accident where the claimant sought compensation for injuries sustained. The court examined the principles of compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Findings of Court:
The court ruled that compensation must adequately restore the claimant's position prior to the accident, considering both pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses.
Issues: The main issues included the adequacy of compensation and the principles governing its determination.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that compensation must reflect a balance between restoring the claimant's position and ensuring fairness in the award process.
Result: The compensation awarded was upheld and adjusted as necessary.
ORDER :
(Ashutosh Kumar, J.)
1- vihykFkhZ }kjk ;g vihy /kkjk&173 eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e&1988 ds rgr U;k;ky; eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk nkok vf/kdj.k] la[;k&2] t;iqj egkuxj ¼ftls vkxs ^vf/kdj.k* ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k&183@2022] vej flag cuke jksfgrk'k dqekj o vU; esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 23-07-2024 ¼ftls vkxs *vk{ksfir fu.kZ;* ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ ds fo#) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA
2- vihykFkhZ }kjk vf/kdj.k ds le{k] Lo;a ds eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk esa vkgr gks tkus ds QyLo:i dqy 27]30]000@& #i;s Dyse izkIr djus grsq Dyse ;kfpdk izLrqr dh x;h FkhA vf/kdj.k }kjk mDr Dyse ;kfpdk esa ;kph dks dqy 1]10]216@& #i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf’k e; C;kt 6 izfr’kr lkykuk dh nj ls fnyokbZ x;h gSA mDr vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ls O;fFkr gksdj gLrxr vihy] vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa cढ+ksrjh fd;s tkus grsq izLrqr dh x;h gSA
3- nkSjkus cgl fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ dk rdZ jgk gS fd gLrxr nq?kZVuk esa vihykFkhZ ds 'kjhj ij vkbZ pksVksa ds QyLo:i vihykFkhZ dks 19-64 izfr'kr LFkk;h fu;ksZX;rk dkfjr gqbZ Fkh] fdUrq fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ dks dkfjr 19-64 izfr'kr LFkk;h fu;ksZX;rk dks lEiw.kZ 'kjhj ds ifjisz{; esa 9 izfr'kr gh ekuk tkdj =qfV dkfjr dh xbZ gS] ftls la'kksf/kr fd;k tkosA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ dk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk gS fd vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ dh ekfld vk; 6]734@& #i;s 26 fnol ds vk/kkj ij fu/kkZfjr djrs gq, =qfV dkfjr dh xbZ gSA tcfd oDr ?kVuk vihykFkhZ vkWVks pykdj izfrekg 15 ls 20 gtkj :i;s dh vk; vftZr djrk FkkA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ dk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk gS fd vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ dh fu/kkZfjr ekfld vk; esa Hkfo"; dh izR;k'kk dh en esa dksbZ cढ+
4- blds foijhr fo}ku vf/koDrk izR;FkhZ chek dEiuh dh vksj ls mijksDr rdkZsa dk fojks/k djrs gq, vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr fd;s x;s fu.kZ; dh iqf"V fd;s tkus rFkk vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls lafLFkr dh x;h vihy dks fujLr fd;s tkus dk fuosnu fd;k x;kA
5- nksuksa i{kksa dh cgl lquh x;hA vihy i=koyh o vf/kdj.k ds vfHkys[k dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA
6- ;g vihy] vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls vf/kdj.k }kjk fnyokbZ x;h {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa cढ+ksrjh fd;s tkus gsrq izLrqr dh xbZ gSA izR;FkhZ chek dEiuh dh vksj ls vf/kdj.k ds fu.kZ; ds fo#) dksbZ vihy izLrqr ugha dh x;h gSA
7- eksVj nq?kZVuk esa vkgr O;fDr;ksa dks {kfriwfrZ fnyok;s tkus ds lanHkZ esa ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk vius U;kf;d n`"Vkar
Anant Son of Sidheswar Dukre Vs. Pratap son of Zhampannappa Lamzane & Anr. Reported in (2018) 9 Supreme Court Cases 450,
esa fl)kUr izfrikfnr fd;k gS tks fuEu izdkj ls gS %&
“12. In case of motor accidents leading to injuries and disablements, it is a well settled principle that a person must not only be compensated for his physical injury, but also for the non-pecuniary losses which he has suffered due to the injury. The claimant is entitled to be compensated for his inability to lead a full life, and enjoy those things and amenities which he would have enjoyed, but for the injuries."
"13. The purpose of compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act is to fully and adequately restore the aggrieved to the position prior to the accident. This Court in Yadava Kumar v. National Insurance Co. Ltd. explained “just compensation” in the following words:"
"15. It goes without saying that in matters of determination of compensation both the tribunal and the court are statutorily charged with a responsibility of fixing a “just compensation”. It is obviously true that determination of a just compensation cannot be equated to a bonanza. At the same time the concept of “just compensation” obviously suggests application of fair and equitable principles and a reasonable approach on the part of the tribunals and courts. This reasonableness on the part of the tribunal and court must be on a l
