Appellate courts possess the authority to enhance compensation in motor accident claims to ensure just and fair awards, even in the absence of cross-appeals by claimants, by exercising powers to re-appreciate evidence and rectify errors in the tribunal's original assessment under beneficial social welfare legislation.

JUDGMENT :

SUDEEPTI SHARMA, J.

1. The present appeal has been preferred against the award dated 15.01.2015 passed by the learned Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Chandigarh (for short, 'the Tribunal’) in the claim petition filed under Section 163-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, wherein, the appellant/insurance company was held liable to pay the compensation to the claimants/respondents No.1 and 2 to the tune of Rs.7,05,000/- along with interest @ 7.5 % per annum, on the ground of quantum of compensation to be on higher side.

2. As sole issue for determination in the present appeal is confined to quantum of compensation awarded by the learned Tribunal, a detailed narration of the facts of the case is not required to be reproduced here for the sake of brevity.

SUBMISSIONS OF LEARNED COUNSEL FOR THE PARTIES

3. Learned counsel for the appellant-Insurance Company contends that the amount awarded by the learned tribunal is on the higher side. He further contends that appellant–insurance company contends that the learned Tribunal has erred in not deducting one-third of the income towards personal and living expenses, in accordance with the Second Schedule, therefore, he prays that the present appeal be allowed and amount of compensation be reduced.

4. Per contra, learned counsel for the claimants/respondents No.1 and 2, however, vehemently argues on the lines of the award and contends that the amount of compensation as assessed by Ld. Tribunal, has rightly been granted to the appellant/claimant. Therefore, she prays for dismissal of the present appeal.

5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the whole record of this case with their able assistance.

SETTLED LAW ON COMPENSATION

6. Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Sarla Verma Vs. Delhi Transport Corporation and Another [(2009) 6 Supreme Court Cases 121] laid down the law on assessment of compensation and the relevant paras of the same are as under:-

“30. Though in some cases the deduction to be made towards personal and living expenses is calculated on the basis of units indicated in Trilok Chandra, the general practice is to apply standardised deductions. Having a considered several subsequent decisions of this Court, we are of the view that where the deceased was married, the deduction towards personal and living expenses of the deceased, should be one-third (1/3rd) where the number of dependent family members is 2 to 3, one-fourth (1/4th) where the number of dependent family members is 4 to 6, and one-fifth (1/5th) where the number of dependent family members exceeds six.

31. Where the deceased was a bachelor and the claimants are the parents, the deduction follows a different principle. In regard to bachelors, normally, 50% is deducted as personal and living expenses, because it is assumed that a bachelor would tend to spend more on himself. Even otherwise, there is also the possibility of his getting married in a short time, in which event the contribution to the parent(s) and siblings is likely to be cut drastically. Further, subject to evidence to the contrary, the father is likely to have his own income and will not be considered as a dependant and the mother alone will be considered as a dependant. In the