BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
L. VICTORIA GOWRI, J.
Ramakrishnan (Died) & Ors. - Appellants
Versus
K. Mahesbabu & Anr. - Respondents
C.M.A. (MD) No. 190 of 2019
Decided On : 12-01-2024
Motor Vehicles Act - Motor Accident Claims Tribunal - Compensation awarded for partial permanent disability due to a road accident
Fact of the Case:
The deceased sustained permanent disability in a road accident and died during the pendency of the claim petition. The claimants sought compensation for the loss of income and medical expenses.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the accident was due to the rash and negligent driving of the vehicle owner. However, the lack of medical bills and documents proving the partial permanent disability led to a reduced compensation of Rs.12,000 for transport and medical expenses.
Issues: The main issue was the quantum of compensation for the partial permanent disability suffered by the deceased due to the accident.
Ratio Decidendi: The court considered the lack of medical evidence and bills in determining the compensation for the partial permanent disability, leading to a reduced award.
Final Decision: The Civil Miscellaneous Appeal was dismissed, and the compensation of Rs.12,000 for transport and medical expenses was upheld.
JUDGMENT
(Prayer: Civil Miscellaneous Appeal filed under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, to set aside the judgment and decree dated 28.06.2018 made in M.C.O.P.No.495 of 2011 on the file of the learned Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Tiruchirappalli.)
1. This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal has been directed as against the award passed by the learned Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Chief Judicial Magistrate, at Tiruchirappalli in M.C.O.P.No.495 of 2011 dated 28.06.2018 by the appellants/petitioners challenging the quantum of the award.
2. For the sake of convenience, the parties are addressed herein as per the rank in M.C.O.P.No.495 of 2011.
3. The brief facts leading to the filing of the Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is as follows:-
The first petitioner is the deceased person who died during the pendency of the claim petition, the second petitioner is the wife of the deceased, the third petitioner is the minor daughter of the deceased and the fourth petitioner is the mother of the deceased. On 28.05.2010 at about 09.40 p.m., while the deceased namely V.Ramakrishnan was standing on the northern side of mud road margin of the east – west road opposite to Fathima Middle School, near Puthur Four Road, Trichy, a motorcycle bearing registration No.TN-09-AB-2947 belonging to the first respondent insured with the second respondent, came from east – west direction and while overtaking came to the right side, dashed against the deceased. As the result of which, the deceased fell down on the road and sustained grievous and multiple injuries and two fractures in his right leg below knees. Thus the said V.Ramakrishnan sustained permanent disability on his right leg. After the accident, he was admitted in Geethanjali Hospital, Tiruchirappalli on 28.05.2010 and discharged on 02.06.2010 and continued his treatment as out patient. The deceased person was an employee of Mangal and Mangal Metal Store, Trichy and was earning Rs.3,000/- per month at the time of his death and he was 45 years old. Due to the accident, he was not able to work, sit, stand and squat and drive two wheeler. During the pendency of the claim petition, the said V.Ramakrishnan died. From the date of accident till his date of death, the said V.Ramakrishnan was not able to discharge his job as Salesman in Mangal and Mangal Store and he lost his entire income from the date of accident till his death. The respondents 2 to 4 were impleaded in the said claim petition seeking a compensation of Rs.3,00,000/-.
4. The first respondent is the owner of the vehicle and the second respondent is the insurance company with which the vehicle was insured. Refuting each and every allegations made in the claim petition, the second respondent had filed a counter. That apart it was also vehemently denied in the said counter that the first respondent vehicle was not insured with the second respondent insurance company.
5. The learned Tribunal had framed three issues. Two witnesses P.W.1 and P.W.2 were examined on the side of the petitioners and Ex.P1 to Ex.P7 were marked and neither witnesses were examined nor documents were marked on the side of the respondents. The first respondent was called absent and set exparte. On the basis of the oral and documentary evidence and the arguments putforth by the petitioners and second respondent, the Tribunal proceeded to conclude that the accident happened due to the rash and negligent driving of the first respondent. Considering the arguments of the second respondent that the first respondent's vehicle was not insured with the second respondent insurance company, the learned Tribunal fixed the entire liability with the first respondent. However, though seven documents were marked on the side of the petitioners, the medical bills, X ray, scan report or any other medical documents which could substantiate the deceased V.Ramakrishnan suffered from continuous illness due to the accident which happened on 28.05.2010, ha
Non-functional permanent disability compensation assessed per percentage without multiplier; enhancements and reductions balanced to confirm original award.
Assessment of damages under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The court's decision emphasized the assessment of evidence, nature of injuries, and disability in determining the appropriate compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The court applied the principles of contributory negligence and liability under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to determine compensation for the injuries sustained in the accident.
The assessment of disability, nature of injuries, and evidence of the claimant's income are crucial factors in determining compensation in motor vehicle accident claims.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the court's authority to modify the compensation awarded by the Tribunal based on the reasonableness of the assessment of disability, medical expen....
The court established that proper medical evidence is crucial in assessing disability for compensation claims under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Liability of the insurer in a motor accident claim case is established based on the evidence presented and settlements made in connected claim petitions.
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