Back
2026 Supreme(Raj) 137
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
Ashutosh Kumar, J.
Zakiur Rehman S/o Atikur Rehman - Appellant
Versus
Sunil Kumar S/o Mahesh Kumar – Respondent
S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 873 of 2023
Decided On : 15-01-2026
For the Appellant : Mr. Pankaj Sharma, Adv.
For the Respondent: Mr. Virendra Agrawal, Adv. With Ms. Shara P. Rajora, Adv.
Compensation in motor vehicle accidents must fully restore victims' pre-accident status, prioritizing fair assessments especially for minors using minimum wage criteria.
Headnote:(A) Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - Sections 166, 173 - Compensation for injury must consider non-pecuniary losses; claimant entitled to restoration of position prior to accident - Just compensation requires fair principles. (Para 12, 13, 15)
(B) Calculation of compensation for minors; courts must adopt minimum wages for skilled workers at the time of accident, not equate to non-earning individuals. (Para 9)
Facts of the case:
The appellant's monthly income was disregarded in earlier judgments for compensation determination in a motor vehicle accident involving a minor. (Para 9)
Findings of Court:
Award was to be adjusted to ensure rightful compensation assessed against minimum wage for skilled workers. Amounts awarded across numerous heads to restore before accident conditions. (Para 9, 10, 11)
Issues: Calculation of compensation based on individual circumstances against generic categories. (Para 9)
Ratio Decidendi: Courts must ensure just compensation is awarded, specifically when a child is involved, focusing on realistic income measures. (Para 15)
Result: Adjustment of compensation amounts acknowledged and re-evaluated.
ORDER :
ASHUTOSH KUMAR, J.
1- vihykFkhZ tdhmj jgeku dh vksj ls tfj;s izkÑfrd lja{kd firk }kjk izLrqr ;g vihy /kkjk 173 eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e&1988 ds rgr U;k;ky; eksVj nq?kZVuk nkok vf/kdj.k la[;k&2] t;iqj egkuxj izFke ¼ftls vkxs ^fo}ku vf/kdj.k* ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k&419@2019] tdhmj jgeku cuke lquhy dqekj o vU; esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 07-01-2023 ¼ftls vkxs ^vk{ksfir fu.kZ;^ ds uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ ds fo#) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA
2- vihykFkhZ tdhmj jgeku dh vksj ls tfj;s izkÑfrd lja {kd firk }kjk fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds le{k] eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk esa mlds iq= tdhmj jgeku ds vkgr gks tkus ds QyLo:i dqy 42]50]000@& #i;s {kfriwfrZ jkf'k izkIr djus gsrq Dyse ;kfpdk izLrqr dh x;h FkhA fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk mDr Dyse ;kfpdk dk fuLrkj.k djrs gq, ;kph dks dqy 2]58]616@& #i;s dh {kfriwfrZ jkf'k e; C;kt 06 izfr'kr lkykuk dh nj ls fnyokbZ x;h gSA fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds mDr vk{ksfir fu.kZ; ls O;fFkr gksdj gLrxr vihy] vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls tfj;s izkÑfrd lja{kd firk }kjk {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksrjh fd;s tkus gsrq izLrqr dh x;h gSA
3- nkSjkus cgl fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ dk rdZ jgk gS fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ dh dksbZ vk; fu/kkZfjr ugha dj vk; dh {kfr ds en esa ,deq'r 1]50]000@& #i;s dh jkf'k vihykFkhZ dks fnyokbZ tkdj =qfV dkfjr dh x;h gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ dk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk gS fd ekeys dh nq?kZVuk esa vihykFkhZ ds nksuksa iSjksa o gkFkksa esa vfLFk Hkax dh xaHkhj pksVksa dkfjr gqbZ] ftuds QyLo:i vihykFkhZ ds 'kjhj ij dqy 43-43 izfr'kr LFkk;h fu;ksZX;rk vkuk ik;k x;k gSA fo}ku vf/koDrk vihykFkhZ dk ;g Hkh rdZ jgk gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh lq[k&lqfo/kk dh deh ds en esa i`Fkd ls dksbZ jkf'k vihykFkhZ dks ugha fnyokbZ xbZ gS rFkk 'kkjhfjd o ekufld ihMk+ dh en esa o vU; enksa esa Hkh vR;f/kd de jkf'k fnyokbZ x;h gS] ftuesa c<+ksrjh dh tkosA vr% vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls izLrqr vihy Lohdkj dh tkdj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa c<+ksrjh fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh x;hA
4- blds foijhr fo}ku vf/koDrk izR;FkhZ chek dEiuh dh vksj ls mijksDr rdkZsa dk fojks/k djrs gq, fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds fu.kZ; dh iqf"V fd;s tkus rFkk vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls lafLFkr dh x;h vihy dks [kkfjt fd;s tkus dh izkFkZuk dh x;hA
5- nksuksa i{kksa dh cgl lquh x;hA i=koyh o fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds vfHkys[k dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA
6- ekeys dh nq?kZVuk esa vihykFkhZ dks dkfjr gqbZ lk/kkj.k o xaHkhj pksVksa ds QyLo:i vihykFkhZ ds 'kjhj ij dqy 43-43 izfr'kr LFkk;h fu;ksZX;rk vkuk ik;k x;k gSA 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 large peripheral field.”
7- i=koyh ds voyksdu ls izdV gksrk gS fd ekeys dh ?kVuk fnukad 25-05-2018 dh crkb
