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2001 Supreme(MP) 53

High Court Of Madhya Pradesh
BHAWANI SINGH, ARUN MISHRA
PREM BAI - Appellant
Versus
RAMESH - Respondents
M. A. 161 Of 1994
Decided On : 01/23/2001

Advocates Appeared:
Shobha Menon

The court's decision emphasized the assessment of compensation based on the deceased's income and dependency, application of the appropriate multiplier, and determination of additional compensation elements, while also holding the insurance company liable to pay the total compensation awarded in the case.

Headnote:

Motor Accidents - Compensation - - [Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Section 166] - The court awarded compensation to the claimants for the death of the deceased in a motor accident. The court determined the deceased's income and dependency, applied the appropriate multiplier, and awarded compensation for consortium, funeral expenses, loss to the estate, and loss of life expectancy. The court also held the insurance company liable to pay the total compensation awarded in the case.

Fact of the Case:

The appeal was against the award of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal for compensation to the widow and son of the deceased Sattulal, a truck driver who died in a motor accident. The claimants alleged that the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of another vehicle, and sought compensation for their dependency on the deceased.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the accident was caused by the rash and negligent driving of the other vehicle, and determined the deceased's income, dependency, and entitlement to additional compensation for consortium, funeral expenses, loss to the estate, and loss of life expectancy. The court also held the insurance company liable to pay the total compensation awarded in the case.

Issues: Assessment of compensation, dependency of claimants, liability of insurance company.

Ratio Decidendi: The court assessed the deceased's income and dependency, applied the appropriate multiplier, and awarded compensation for additional elements such as consortium, funeral expenses, loss to the estate, and loss of life expectancy. The court also held the insurance company liable to pay the total compensation awarded in the case.

Final Decision: The appeal was allowed, and the court awarded compensation to the claimants, holding the insurance company liable to pay the total compensation awarded in the case.

BHAWANI SINGH, C. J.

( 1 ) THIS appeal is directed against the award dated 5. 11. 1993 of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, bhopal in M. C. C. No. 41 of 1993.

( 2 ) CLAIMANTS are widow and son of the deceased Sattulal. Deceased Sattulal was truck driver in truck No. CIQ 755. He was going from Indore to Sagar and when he reached near village Kharkhedi at about 1 a. m. , vehicle No. MIB 7246, driven rashly and negligently by respondent Ramesh, owned by Kuldeep Singh and insured with oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. dashed against this vehicle. As a result of this accident, sattulal received injuries due to which he died on the spot.

( 3 ) CONSEQUENTLY, a claim petition was filed against respondents for compensation of Rs. 2,20,000. Allegation is that accident took place due to the rash and negligent driving of vehicle No. MIB 7246 by driver ramesh, otherwise the accident would not have taken place. The claimants were dependent on the deceased for survival. The deceased was earning Rs. 3,000 per month plus Rs. 30 daily allowance.

( 4 ) RESPONDENTS, owner and driver of the vehicle, did not file any statement before the Tribunal. Insurance company has admitted that truck No. MIB 7246 was insured with it. Rest of the allegations have been denied. It was contended that the liability of the insurance company to pay compensation has been limited to Rs. 1,50,000. It is also pointed out that accident took place due to rash and negligent driving of the vehicle by the deceased Sattulal and not because of the driver of MIB 7246. With respect to age, it is pointed out that the deceased was not 45 years old nor was he earning Rs. 3,000 per month.

( 5 ) THE Tribunal has accepted the case of the claimants that accident took place on 30. 4. 1989 at about 1. 10 a. m. when truck no. MIB 7246 driven rashly and negligently by its driver hit the truck No. CIQ 755 resulting in the accident, injuries to deceased Sattulal and his death as a result thereof. It is also held that the claimants are legal heirs of Sattulal. It is also held that the truck No. MIB 7246 was insured with oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. Ultimately, against claim of Rs. 2,20,000 compensation of Rs. 90,000 has been awarded carrying interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum from the date of application till payment. This award does not satisfy the claimants, therefore, they have prayed for enhancement of compensation.

( 6 ) MRS. Shobha Menon, learned counsel for the claimants submits that the Claims tribunal has not assessed the compensation reasonably resulting in non-payment of just compensation to the claimants. The learned counsel submits that the deceased was earning Rs. 3,000 per month in addition to Rs. 30 per day by way of allowance. The Tribunal has disbelieved the version and pegged the income of the deceased at Rs. 1,000 per month and ignored the receipt of Rs. 30 per day by way of allowance. Learned counsel contends that the approach of the Tribunal is erroneous and against the evidence on record. Further contention is that interest at the rate of 15 per cent is admissible, therefore, interest paid by the Tribunal at the rate of 12 per cent per annum is not correct. Another submission of the learned counsel is that the Tribunal has not awarded any amount towards consortium, funeral expenses, loss to the estate and loss of life expectancy.

( 7 ) THE matter has been examined and record perused. It may be true that the claimants have stated that the income of deceased was Rs. 3,000 per month and he was also receiving Rs. 30 per day by way of allowance from the owner of the vehicle. Statement of Narayan Singh, owner of the vehicle No. CIQ 755 is that the deceased was being paid Rs. 1,000 per month plus Rs. 30 per day as daily allowance. Hence, the approach of the Tribunal in not accepting the version of owner of the vehicle that he was paying daily allowance to sattulal is not justified and is liable to the rejected. Consequently, it is held that the deceased was earning Rs. 1






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