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2001 Supreme(MP) 92

High Court Of Madhya Pradesh
R. D. VYAS, SHAMBHOO SINGH
HUKUM SINGH - Appellant
Versus
NARAYAN SINGH - Respondents
M. A. 467 Of 1997
Decided On : 02/07/2001

Advocates Appeared:
O.K.Neema, S.S.SWAMI

The main legal point established in the judgment is the interpretation of the deduction of amount paid by the Insurance Corporation from the damages payable, as well as the jurisdiction of the Tribunal under the Employees' State Insurance Act.

Headnote:

Motor Accident - Compensation - Employees' State Insurance Act - [Employees' State Insurance Act, Section 53] - The court discussed the injuries sustained by the claimant in a motor accident and the compensation awarded. It also considered the deduction of amount paid by the Insurance Corporation from the damages payable, citing the case of Kashiram Mathur v. Rajendra Singh, 1983 ACJ 152 (MP). The court modified the award and directed the respondents to pay Rs. 2,77,000 to the appellant with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum.

Fact of the Case:

The claimant sustained injuries in a motor accident and filed a claim seeking compensation. The Tribunal awarded compensation of Rs. 1,25,000, which the claimant appealed for enhancement.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the bus, leading to the claimant's 100 per cent permanent disability. It also discussed the deduction of amount paid by the Insurance Corporation from the damages payable and modified the award to Rs. 2,77,000.

Issues: The issues included the assessment of compensation for the claimant's injuries, the deduction of amount paid by the Insurance Corporation, and the jurisdiction of the Tribunal under the Employees' State Insurance Act.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the amount paid by the Insurance Corporation under a contract for which the claimant had paid premium should not be deducted from the damages payable, citing the case of Kashiram Mathur v. Rajendra Singh, 1983 ACJ 152 (MP). It also rejected the contention regarding the jurisdiction of the Tribunal under the Employees' State Insurance Act.

Final Decision: The appeal was partly allowed, and the court modified the award to Rs. 2,77,000 with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum.

SHAMBHOO SINGH, J.

( 1 ) THIS appeal is directed by the claimant against the award dated 31. 1. 1997 passed by IV Addl. Motor accidents Claims Tribunal, Dewas, in claim Case No. 229 of 1993 whereby he was awarded compensation of Rs. 1,25,000 for the injuries sustained by him in the accident.

( 2 ) THE case of the claimant was that on 25. 5. 1993, he was going to Dewas from his village Napakhedi on his cycle. When he reached near Bane Singh's field while going on kacha road (patri), respondent no. 1 came from behind driving passenger bus No. MP 13-0 2828 belonging to respondent no. 2 and insured with respondent No. 3 in a rash and negligent manner and dashed against him as a result of which he sustained injuries on his spinal cord, hip and other parts of the body. He was admitted in M. Y. Hospital, Indore and was discharged on 7. 6. 1993. He was employee in S. Kumar's Ltd. and was insured under employees' State Insurance Act. He took treatment in insurance hospital. Due to injuries in spinal cord his lower part of the body became senseless. He suffered 100 per cent permanent disability. The claimant filed claim case seeking compensation of Rs. 18,48,210. The respondent Nos. 1 and 2 remained absent and were proceeded ex pane. Respondent No. 3 resisted the claim and averred, inter alia, that the accident occurred due to negligence of the claimant himself and pleaded that the respondent No. 1 had no driving licence. The claims Tribunal on appreciation of evidence held that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the bus by the respondent No. 1 and awarded compensation of Rs. 1,25,000 and Rs. 2,700 for medical treatment. The claimant being aggrieved of the compensation amount, filed this appeal for enhancement.

( 3 ) THE fact that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the bus has not been disputed before us. Now the question that arises for consideration is whether the amount of compensation awarded by the Tribunal deserves to be enhanced. The version of AW 1 Hukum singh, AW 2 Hari Prasad and AW 4 is that on 25. 5. 1993 the offending bus dashed against the claimant as a result of which he sustained injuries on his back. His lower limbs have become senseless, he cannot walk, he has lost sensation of urine and stool. He cannot do his daily routine work without the help of someone. He deposed that firstly he was treated in M. Y. Hospital, indore, and thereafter at Dewas by Dr. Kothari. Dr. R. D. Mundra, Assistant Surgeon, district Hospital, Dewas, examined the claimant on 25. 5. 1993 and found injuries on his body. The discharge card of M. Y. Hospital, Indore, Exh. P-36 and discharge certificate of E. S. I. S. General hospital, Ujjain, Exh. P-37, support the version of the appellant. There was fracture of spinal cord at the level of L-2. Dr. Vikram Mehta, PW 3, examined the appellant and opined that the cord injury led to paraplegia with loss of sensation of defecation and micturition. He could not do his daily routine work himself. Dr. Mehta assessed his disability at 100 per cent vide his certificate, Exh. P-45. Under such circumstances, the learned Tribunal rightly held that the appellant suffered 100 per cent permanent working disability.

( 4 ) IT has also come in the evidence of hukum Singh that he was working in S. Kumar's concern on the salary of Rs. 969 per month. His version is supported by exh. P-38, the salary certificate issued by s. Kumar's. The Tribunal accepted this evidence. As the appellant was serving in s. Kumar's and he was covered under e. S. I. Scheme and was paid Rs. 840 per month by the Insurance Corporation due to these injuries. The Tribunal deducted this amount from the pay of the appellant which was Rs. 969 and held that the loss caused to the appellant was Rs. 120 per month. Mr. Neema, the learned counsel for the appellant, argued that the Tribunal committed error in deducting the amount of Rs. 840 paid by the Insurance Corporation. A Full Bench of this court in case






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