IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
JASPREET SINGH, J.
New India Assurance Co. Ltd. - Appellant
Versus
Anil Kumar And Ors. - Respondents
FIRST APPEAL FROM ORDER NO. - 613 OF 2019.
Decided On : 14-07-2023
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. details surrounding the fatal accident and victim's profile (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. tribunal's findings and contentions on appeal by insurance company (Para 4 , 5 , 6) |
| 3. claimants' arguments against the tribunal’s findings regarding income and compensation (Para 7 , 8 , 9 , 10) |
| 4. insurance company's rebuttal and limitations on appeal (Para 11 , 12) |
| 5. legal framework and principles governing compensation claims under the motor vehicles act (Para 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20) |
| 6. court's power under cpc and rights of claimants and insurers (Para 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25) |
| 7. guidance on claims and quantum adjustments in appeals (Para 26 , 27 , 28) |
| 8. court's duty to ensure just compensation and rebutting the appeal grounds (Para 29 , 30 , 31) |
| 9. provisions regarding determination of notional income and multiplier effects (Para 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37) |
| 10. court's final assessment of compensation based on findings (Para 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44) |
| 11. judgment conclusion denying appeal and affirming tribunal's award (Para 45 , 46 , 47) |
JUDGMENT
Jaspreet Singh, J.
The Insurance Company has come up in Appeal under section 173 of the MOTOR VEHICLES ACT , 1988 assailing the award dated 07.08.2019 passed in Claim Petition No. 81 of 2018 by Motor Accident Claims Tribunal/Additional District Judge, Court No. VI, District Barabanki solely assailing the quantum.
2. Sri Anchal Mishra, learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that upon the death of Smt. Sunita on 01.11.2016, a Claim Petition bearing No. 81 of 2016 came to be filed. The averments of the claim petition indicated that Smt. Sunita being the pillion rider was traveling along with her husband Anil Kumar on his motorcycle bearing No. UP 32HF 8507. While the said couple had reached near Makarpur Petrol Pump, P.S. Loni Katra, District Barabanki, the offending truck bearing No. UP 83 H 9611 being driven rashly and negligently hit the motorcycle, as a result, Smt. Sunita received grievous injuries and she died on the spot.
3. It was further pleaded that Smt. Sunita was a proficient housewife and was also running a Tea Stall and was able to earn Rs. 6,000/- per month from the said Tea Stall and she contributed towards the household work and that was valued at Rs. 3,000/- per month and consequently the loss was indicated as Rs. 9,000/- per month. The deceased was survived by her husband Anil Kumar, son Pramod Kumar and a daughter Ms. Priya.
4. The claim petition came to be contested and upon exchange of the pleadings, the Tribunal framed six issues. After considering the evidence both oral and documentary, the Tribunal returned a finding that the accident which caused the death of Smt. Sunita was on account of rash and negligent driving of a truck bearing No. UP 83 H 9611. It also held that the truck was duly insured with the New India Assurance Company Ltd. and its driver had a valid and subsisting driving license, however, while computing the compensation, the Tribunal adopted a notional income of Rs. 3,000/-per month upon which 25% was added for future prospects and considering that the age of the deceased as 40 years, a multiplier of 15 was adopted and thereafter a sum of Rs. 70,000/- towards loss of consortium, loss of estate, funeral expenses was added and thus a total sum of Rs. 7,45,000/- has been awarded in favour of the claimants-respondents along with 7% interest by means of the award dated 07.08.2019 which is under challenge.
5. The learned counsel for the Insurance Company has submitted that the Tribunal has erred on two counts:-
6. It is further elaborated that since no proof was furnished for proving any income of the deceased, hence, even the notional income which has been taken is
Arun Kumar Agrawal v. National Insurance Co. Ltd.
Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking v. Basanti Devi
Kirti v. Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. 2021 (2) SCC 166
New India Assurance Company Ltd. v. Risha Devi
Rajendra Singh v. National Insurance Company Ltd. 2020 (7) SCC 256
The court established that compensation calculations must consider the deceased's role and proper deductions for personal expenses, following established legal principles.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the need to consider the multi-faceted services provided by a homemaker to her family when computing compensation for the death of a homemaker in a....
Income tax returns are statutory documents for assessing compensation in motor accident claims, and domestic contributions of a deceased homemaker must be recognized in compensation calculations.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the reliance on oral testimony to determine the deceased's income and the application of established legal principles to modify the compensation am....
The court established that actual income evidence must be prioritized over notional income in compensation claims under the Motor Vehicle Act.
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