ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
(Lucknow Bench)
BEFORE : DEVI PRASAD SINGH AND ASHWANI KUMAR MISHRA, JJ.
Smt. RENU TIWARI AND OTHERS ....Appellants
Versus
Smt. PALLAVI PANDEY AND OTHERS ....Respondents
(First Appeal From Order No. 351 of 2013, decided on 29th May, 2014)
Hon’ble Ashwani Kumar Mishra, J.—Instant appeal under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicle Act has been preferred by the appellants-claimants, against the judgment and order/award passed by Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Balrampur dated 9.1.2013 in M.A.C.P. No. 7 of 2012, whereby the tribunal has awarded compensation amounting to Rs. 26,61,976/- alongwith 6% interest. Appellant-claimant No. 1 is widow of deceased Krishna Murari Ram Tiwari, whereas appellant-claimant Nos. 2 to 4 are minor children of deceased and appellant-claimant Nos. 5 and 6 are parents of deceased. Appellants-claimants have sought enhancement, over and above the amount awarded to the amount claimed before the tribunal i.e. Rs. 66,05,181/-, primarily on the ground that monthly salary of the deceased has been incorrectly determined; future prospects have not been correctly valued; personal and living expenses of the deceased have not been correctly valued and the amounts under different heads towards loss of consortium, loss of care and guidance of minor children and funeral expenses have not been awarded.
2. The facts emerging from the records are that deceased Krishna Murari Ram Tiwari was a permanent employee of M/s. Bajaj Hindustan Ltd. (Sugar Division) Unit, Kundrakhi Kastua, P.O. Govindpara, District Gonda, and was working in night shift from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m.. On 28.11.2011 at about 9.30 p.m., while he was on way to the factory alongwith Sandeep Kumar Tiwari on a motorcycle bearing registration No. UP 47 D-7612, having reached Bankatwa, he was hit from behind by Xylo Mahindra Vehicle bearing registration No. UP 47-D 3819 due to rash and negligent driving by its driver, as a result whereof the deceased sustained serious and fatal injuries and while he was taken to the district hospital at Gonda, he succumbed to injuries. A First Information Report as Case Crime No. 1062 of 2011 under Section 304-A and 427 I.P.C. was lodged, wherein the vehicle in question was mentioned. Accordingly, a claim for compensation has been filed under Section 166 of the Act by the appellants-claimants under specified heads.
3. The owner of the vehicle as well as the insurance company contested the claim by filing written statement.
4. The tribunal on the basis of respective pleas of the parties framed following issues :
(i) Whether on 28.11.2011 at about 9.30 p.m. on Gonda-Faizabad road, accident was caused due to rash and negligent driving of Mahindra Xylo Vehicle bearing registration No. UP 47 D-3819, which hit the motorcycle from behind & led to death of pillion rider on account of serious and fatal injuries suffered by him?
(ii) Whether the vehicle bearing registration No. UP 47 D-3819 was duly registered and insured?
(iii) Whether the vehicle was being driven by the driver possessing valid driving licence?
(iv) Whether the claimants are entitled for compensation and from whom?
5. The tribunal upon consideration of evidence brought on record, which included oral statement of four witnesses as well as F.I.R., postmortem report, newspaper report, site-plan, technical report and charge-sheet concluded that the accident had been caused by the vehicle in question due to rash and negligent driving of its driver resulting in serious and fatal injuries for the deceased. Issue No. 2 and 3 were also decided by holding that the vehicle was duly registered and insured, and it was driven by Nanke son of Jaleel, who had a valid permission to drive it.
6. The findings returned by the tribunal on issue No. 1, 2 and 3 have attained finality inter se between the parties, inasmuch as the judgment of the tribunal has not been challenged by the respondents. No further discussion on issue No. 1, 2 and 3 is, therefore required.
7. The only issue that arises for consideration is, as to whether ‘just compensation’ warranted by law under Section 168 (2) of the Motor Vehicle Act has been determined by the tribunal for being paid to the appellants-claimants?
8. Before the tribunal, in orde
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