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2014 Supreme(All) 1394

ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
BEFORE : RAJES KUMAR AND OM PRAKASH-VII, JJ.
NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED ....Appellants
Versus
Smt. PUSHPA DEVI AND OTHERS ....Respondents
(First Appeal From Order No. 2455 of 2014, decided on 25th August, 2014)

Advocates:
Counsel :
Saral Srivastava for the Appellants; Dharmendra Kumar Gupta and Smt. Kiran Gupta for the Respondents.

Headnote:Motor Vehicles Act, 1988—Section 173—Quantum—Fatal—Deceased aged about 43 years—Employed as Telecom Mechanic—Income at Rs. 18671 p.m.—Rs. 26,55,088 awarded by Tribunal as compensation—Challenge against—Instant case—Held, not a case of head-on-collusion—Appellant not able to show that any amount was deducted towards income tax or there was any tax liability—Plea of appellant that amount of income tax should be deducted, rejected—Moreso, family pension after the death of deceased is not liable to be deducted for the computation of the income—Interference with award declined. [Paras 5 to 13]

       Result; Appeal Dismissed.

       

JUDGMENT

By the Court.—This is an appeal under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, against the order of Tribunal dated 23.4.2014, by which Tribunal has awarded a sum of Rs. 26,55,088/- towards compensation.

2. The appellant is the insurer of Tata Sumo, bearing registration No. UP-81-J-5163.

3. Brief facts stated in the impugned order are that on 19.11.2009 at 6.15 p.m. when the deceased was going to Telephone Exchange, Makhaina, near village Amarpur at Kibai-Anoopshahar Road, near village Amarpur, said Tata Sumo being driven rashly and negligently hit the bhaisa-buggi. As a result of hitting the bhaisa-buggi, Tata Sumo became disbalance and hit the motor-cycle, bearing registration No. UP-13-D-8026, which was being driven by the deceased, Pooran Singh and thereafter, again hit one, Hariom, who was going on cycle, causing grievous injuries to Pooran Singh, who died on the spot. The claim petition has been filed by the legal representative of the deceased, Pooran Singh. At the time of accident, deceased, Pooran Singh was 43 years old and was working as Telecom Mechanic in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. He was a permanent employee and his age of superannuation was 60 years. As per the income certificate, filed by the claimants, deceased Pooran Singh was getting the basic pay Rs. 13,800/-, DA Rs. 3,491/-, HRA Rs. 1,380/- In this way, the deceased was getting a sum of Rs. 18,671/- per month. Tribunal on the basis of evidence on record and the statement of witness arrived to the conclusion that the accident has been caused solely on account of the negligence of the driver of the Tata Sumo. Tribunal on the basis of the salary certificate has taken the monthly income at Rs. 18,670/- and after adding 25% towards future prospect, in view of the Uttar Pradesh Motor Vehicles (Eleventh Amendment) Rules, 2011. Having regard to the age of the deceased being 43 years and after deducting 1/3rd towards personal expenses and applying the multiplier of 14, estimated the compensation at Rs. 26,55,088/-. Tribunal under the aforesaid Rules, 2011 awarded the loss of estate at Rs. 10,000/-, consortium at Rs. 10,000/- and towards loss of love and affection at Rs. 15,000/- and funeral expenses at Rs. 5,000/-.

4. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that there was head-on collision between Tata Sumo and motor-cycle as is apparent from the site plan, annexure-5 to the affidavit, therefore, to some extent Tribunal should have assessed some negligence on the part of the deceased also, who was driving the motor-cycle. Reliance has been placed on the decision of the Apex Court in the case of Bijoy Kumar Dugar v. Bidyadhar Dutta and others, 2006(1) TAC 969. He submitted that HRA should not be treated as income and no deduction towards income tax has been allowed. He further submitted that on the death of the deceased, the dependent have been given compassionate appointment and the wife is getting family pension. Therefore, the amount of family pension is liable to be deducted and to that extent there cannot be loss of income.

5. We do not find substance in the argument of learned counsel for the appellant. We have perused the impugned order and site plan. It is not a case of head-on collision. It is the case where Tata Sumo firstly hit the bhaisa-buggi as a result of which became disbalance and, thereafter, has gone to its right side and hit the motor-cycle being driven by the deceased, Pooran Sigh, who was coming towards his left side. The accident has been caused because Tata Sumo became disbalance and the driver lost his control over the vehicle. The velocity and the speed of Tata Sumo appears to be very high for the reasons that first of all it hit the bhaisa-buggi, thereafter, the motor-cycle and then to cyclist and further hit the tree. This situation can only arise when the Tata Sumo must have been running in very high speed and after hitting the bhaisa-buggi the driver of Tata Sumo was not able to control the vehicle. In such a situation,















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