In the absence of documentary evidence to prove the actual income of the deceased, the assessment of income based on the minimum wages prescribed for unskilled labor by the competent authority is legally sustainable.

Order on Board

1. Challenge in this appeal under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (henceforth, “MV Act, 1988”) is to an award dated 28th September, 2022 passed by First Upper Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Bilaspur, District Bilaspur, CG (for short, “Claims Tribunal”) in Claim Case No. 595 of 2021.

2. By the impugned award, against claim of Rs. 35,00,000/- claimed by unfortunate father, mother and sister of deceased Ku. Kavita Gadhewal by filing application under Section 166 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (for short ‘MV Act’), the Tribunal has awarded a total sum of Rs. 14,89,632/- as compensation along with interest @ 7.5 percent per annum in favour of the claimants on account of her death in the motor accident that occurred on 01.07.2020 due to rash & negligent driving of the offending vehicle Motorcycle bearing registration No. CG 28 J. 9547 driven by respondent No. 1, owned by respondent No. 2 and insured with respondent No. 3/Insurance Company.

3. As per pleadings of the claim application filed under Section 166 of the MV Act, 1988, the deceased met with an accident that occurred on 01.07.2020 due to rash & negligent driving of the driver of the offending vehicle Motorcycle, as a result thereof, she sustained grievous injuries and thereafter, she was taken to Primary Health Centre, Kenda, CIMS Hospital, Bilaspur and then MEKAHARA Hospital, Raipur and ultimately during the course of treatment, she died on 09.07.2020. Claimants have further pleaded in the claim application that at the time of incident, deceased Ku. Kavita Gadhewal was 18 years old and she used to earn Rs.15,000/- per month by doing sewing and embroidery work at home.

4. The claim application was resisted by the respective respondents on various counts including Insurance Company taking a plea of violation of terms & conditions of the Insurance Policy.

5. The Tribunal has framed issues and on assessment of the evidence available on record, decided the same in favour of the appellants/claimants and awarded aforesaid compensation in favour of the appellants/claimants.

6. Learned counsel appearing for the appellants/claimants submits that learned Claims Tribunal has erred in assessing the monthly income of the deceased as Rs.8,860/- per month, as deceased Ku. Kavita Gadhewal was 18 years old at the time of incident and she used to earn Rs.15,000/- per month by doing sewing and embroidery work at home. As such, amount of compensation awarded by the Claims Tribunal may be enhanced suitably.

7. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for respondent No. 4 while opposing the submissions made by counsel for the appellants would submit that the since no documentary evidence has been adduced by the claimants regarding the actual income of the deceased, therefore, learned Claims Tribunal has rightly assessed the monthly income of the deceased as Rs. 8,860/-, which does not require any interference in this appeal, hence, appeal is liable to be dismissed.

8. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record.

9. As per pleading made by the claimants in the claim application, at the time of accident, deceased was aged about 18 years she used to earn Rs. 15,000/- per month by sewing and embroidery work at home, but no documentary proof has been adduced by the claimants to substantiate the income of the deceased.

10. Learned Claims Tribunal, on the basis of minimum wages prescribed by the Labour Commissioner's Office, Raipur for the unskilled labor , has ass