SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2025 Supreme(Online)(Cal) 3292

CALCUTTA HIGH COURT
Ananya Bandyopadhyay, J
Jharna Duley @ Jharna Dule – Appellant
Versus
The National Insurance Company Ltd. – Respondent
Civil Appeal|FMA 128 of 2024|M.A.C. Case No. 94 of 2014



Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr. Jayanta Kumar Mondal, Mr. Sayantan Rakshit
For the Respondents: Mr. Sanjay Paul

The necessity to provide concrete evidence for future earnings in compensation claims and the proper calculation of interest in motor accident cases.

Headnote:(A) Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - Section 166 - Modification of compensation - Appeal filed against judgement of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, where future prospects were not granted and interest was assessed inadequately at 4% - Future prospects were rightly granted on established income, modified to 6% interest. (Paras 6-8)

(B) Employment Proof - Burden on claimants to prove employment of deceased for future prospects - Claimants assumed negligent thereby not entitled to filial consortium of Rs. 40,000/-. (Paras 6-7)

Facts of the case:
The appeal arises from a decision against the claim for compensation in a motor accident case due to rejection of future prospects and inadequate interest awarded by the Tribunal.

Findings of Court:
Compensation was modified to include future prospects and interest increased to 6% per annum.

Issues: Whether future prospect compensation and appropriate interest was rightly assessed and if claimants are entitled to filial consortium.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the necessity of proving employment for future prospects and the scope of compensation in motor accident cases.

Result: Appeal partly allowed.

Table of Content
1. claimants' appeal against tribunal's decision regarding compensation. (Para 3 , 4)
2. court limits itself to the contested issues presented. (Para 5)
3. court modifies compensation including future prospects and corrects interest. (Para 6 , 8)
4. emphasizes the importance of proving employment for compensation. (Para 7)

Ananya Bandyopadhyay, J:

1. The Learned Advocates representing the respective parties are present.

2. The instant appeal had been filed against the judgment and award dated 2nd March, 2023 passed by the Learned Judge, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Additional District & Sessions Judge, 1st Court (in-charge) at Paschim Medinipur in M.A.C. Case No. 94 of

2014.

3. Learned Advocate representing the appellants/claimants submitted to have filed the instant appeal being aggrieved by the judgment of the Learned Tribunal wherein the compensation towards the component of future prospect was not granted and interest at the rate of 4% per annum was inadequate.

4. The Learned Advocate representing the respondent No.1/Insurance Company submitted that the victim being a Bachelor and sum of Rs. 40,000/- towards filial consortium should not have been granted.

5. Since, the occurrence of the accident, involvement of the offending vehicle, driving licence, route permit and insurance policy etc. have not been disputed by the Learned Advocate representing the respondent No.1/insurance company, this Court restricts itself only to the extent of issues agitated by the respective parties.

6. The Learned Tribunal cited the reason that on failure on the part of the claimants to prove this employment of the deceased victim the same were not entitled to future prospect. More-over, since the claimants had been negligent in conducting her claim application. The rate of interest granted at the rate of 4% per annum instead of 6% per annum. In view of the impugned judgment and order passed by the Learned Tribunal is modified to that extent the grant of compensation towards the element of future prospect as well as increasing the interest to 6% per annum from 4% per annum to be paid from the date of filing of the claim application under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act till the date of its realization. More-over, since the victim expired as a Bachalor the claimants were not entitled to sum of Rs.

40,000/- against filial consortium.

7. Considering the observations of the Hon’ble Apex Court in National insurance company Ltd. Vs. Pranay Shetty & Anr1 and Sarala Verma & Ors. Vs. Delhi Transport Corporation & Anr.2 The impugned award of Rs. 3,59,700/- is modified as follows:

F P M G Monthly Income Annual income uture Prospect to be added( 40%) ersonal Expenses (50%) ultiplier to be “18” eneral Damages Less Entitlement R R Rs. 5000/- x 12 Rs. 60,000/- s. 24,000/- s. 84,000/- Rs. 42,000/- Rs. 42,000/- X 18 Rs. 7,56,000/- Rs. 33,000/- Rs. 7,89,000/- Rs. 6,10,000/- Rs. 1, 79,000/-

8. The Learned Advocate for the appellants/claimants submitted that the appellants/claimants have withdrawn a sum of Rs. 6,10,000/- The appellants/claimants are entitled to a sum of Rs. 1,79,000/- along with interest at the rate of 6% per annum to be paid from

1 2017(4)TAC 673(S.C)

2 (2009) 6 SC 121 the date of filing of the claim application i.e. 25.02.2014 till the date of realization. In view of the observation of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Parminder Singh Vs. Honey Goyal & Ors.3. The appellants/claimants are to provide the details of Bank Accounts held in the name of the appellants/claimants at the office of the Learned Registrar General, High Court at Calcutta for disbursal of the compensation amount.

9. The Learned Advocate for the respondent No.1/insurance company is to deposit the balance sum of Rs. 1,79,000/- along with interest before the office of the learned Registrar General High Court at Calcutta within four weeks from the date of passing of this o

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top