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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF JULY, 2023
PRESENT
THE HON’BLE MRS.JUSTICE K.S. MUDAGAL
AND
THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR
MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL No. 10623/2013(MV-I)
C/W
MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO. 2840/2014(MV-I)
IN M.F.A NO. 10623/2013(MV-I):
BETWEEN:
THE DIVISIONAL MANAGER
UNITED INDIA INSURANCE
COMPANY LIMITED.,
DIVISIONAL OFFICE - 10
NO. 48/2, II FLOOR
ST, MARKS ROAD, ABOVE
K.C. DAS SWEETS
BANGALORE - 560 001.
BY
REGIONAL MANAGER,
UNITED INDIA INSURANCE CO. LTD.,
5TH FLOOR, KRISHI BHAVAN
NRUPATHUNGA ROAD, HUDSON CIRCLE
BANGALORE - 560 027
BY IT'S MANAGER.
…APPELLANT
(BY SRI. O.MAHESH, ADVOCATE)
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AND:
1. N.KUMARESAN,
AGE 34 YEARS
S/O. LATE R. NAGALINGAM
R/AT NO. 463, 16TH CROSS
I BLOCK, VISHWAPRIYA LAYOUT
BEGUR ROAD
BANGALORE - 560 068.
2. VENKATARAMANAPPA MAJOR
S/O. GANGAPPA
R/O. KADUBISANAHALLI
VARTHUR HOBLI
BANGALORE - 64.
…RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. K.V.NAIK, ADVOCATE
SRI. CHANDRASHEKHAR ., ADVOCATE FOR R1)
THIS MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL IS FILED UNDER
SECTION 173(1) OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACT PRAYED TO SET
ASIDE THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED 05.11.2013 PASSED
BY THE MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL, COURT OF SMALL
CAUSES, BANGALORE, SCCH-15 IN M.V.C.NO.7635/2012 WITH
COSTS IN THE INTERESTS OF JUSTICE.
M.F.A NO.2840/2014 (MV-I):
BETWEEN:
KUMARESAN .N
AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS
S/O LATE R. NAGALINGAM
R/AT NO. 463, 16TH CROSS,
1ST BLOCK, VISHWAPRIYA LAYOUT
BEGUR ROAD
BENGALURU - 560 068. …APPELLANT
(BY SRI.K.V.NAIK ADVOCATE FOR
SRI CHANDRASHEKHAR R, ADVOCATE)
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AND:
1. VENKATARAMANAPPA
S/O GANGAPPA
R/O KADUBISANAHALLI
VARTHUR HOBLI
BENGALURU.
2. THE DIVISIONAL MANAGER,
UNITED INDIA INSURANCE CO. LTD.,
D.O-10, NO.48/2, II FLOOR,
ST. MARKS ROAD,
ABOVE K.C.DAS SWEETS,
BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. O.MAHESH, ADV. FOR R2)
THIS MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL IS FILED UNDER
SECTION 173(1) OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACT PRAYS THAT THIS
HON'BLE COURT BE PLEASED TO CALL FOR RECORDS IN MVC NO.
7635/2012 ON THE FILE OF THE 13TH ADDL SCJ & MEMBER, MACT,
BANGALORE, SCCH-15 AND MODIFY THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD
DATED
5.11.2013
AND
ENHANCE
THE
COMPENSATION BY
ALLOWING THIS APPEAL WITH COSTS AND GRANT SUCH OTHER
RELIEF'S AS THIS HON'BLE COURT DEEMS FIT TO GRANT IN THE
FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, TO MEET THE
INTEREST OF JUSTICE.
THESE MFAS COMING ON FOR HEARING, AFTER HAVING
HEARD THE MATTERS, RESERVED FOR JUDGMENT, THIS DAY,
RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR J. PRONOUNCED THE FOLLOWING:
These two appeals arise out of a Judgment passed in MVC
No.7635/2012 dated 5.11.2013 by the 13th Additional Small Cause
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Judge and Member, MACT, Bengaluru (SCCH-15) (hereinafter
referred to as `MACT').
2. Parties to these appeals are referred to as per their ranks
before the Tribunal for the purpose of convenience.
3. The appellant in MFA No.10623/2013 has challenged the
award on the point of negligence, the quantum and liability of the
Insurer. Whereas, the claimant has preferred MFA No.2840/2014
challenging the adequacy of the compensation awarded.
4. The brief facts so made out by the petitioner before the
MACT are as under:
That, on 9.10.2012 at about 6.15 a.m. when petitioner was
proceeding on his motorbike bearing Regn.No.KA-01-EE-814 on
Dodda Kannanahalli Main Road on the left side of the road, near
VKC Developers Office, water tanker bearing Regn.KA-03-B-6106
being driven by its driver in high speed and in a rash and negligent
manner, dashed against him. Thereby, he sustained severe
injuries. To that effect, a complaint came to be filed before Airport
Traffic Police Station as per Ex.P1 in Crime No.107/2012 for the
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offences punishable under Sec.279 and 337 of IPC. After
investigation to that effect, charge sheet came to be filed against
the driver of Tanker Lorry No.KA.03/B-6106 for the aforesaid
offences. At the relevant time, respondent no.1 was the owner of
the said offending vehicle and respondent no.2 was the Insurer
respectively.
5. The petitioner claimed compensation of Rs.50,00,000/- on
all counts because of actionable negligence on the part of the
driver of the water tank. He further claimed that in the said
accident, he suffered grievous injuries which lead to his permanent
disability and loss of his earning capacity.
6. Both respondents appeared before the MACT and denied
the case of the petitioner attributing negligence to the petitioner
himself. The policy on the date of accident in respect of the
offending vehicle was admitted. However, it was contended that
liability of the insurer is subject to the terms and conditions of the
policy. They further disputed age, occupation and income of the
claimant and their liability to pay the compensation.
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7. Based upon the rival pleadings, the learned MACT framed
the relevant issues.
8. To substantiate the case of the claimant, he was examined
as PW.1 and also examined Dr.Bhushan Joseph as PW.2 and got
marked Ex.P1 to P14 and closed his evidence. Respondents have
not lead any evidence.
9. The learned MACT, after hearing the arguments, by the
impugned award granted Rs.25,38,700/- as compensation together
with interest at the rate of 8% p.a. from the date of petition till
realization and directed respondent No.2 to indemnify the same.
The MACT awarded the compensation on different heads as per the
table below:
Head
Amount( ````.)
Pain and suffering
1,50,000/-
Medical Expenses
5,16,500/-
Loss of Income during the laid up period
with attendant charges
30,000/-
Diet, conveyance, nourishment, food and
other charges
30,000/-
Loss of future income
(4,500 x 12 x 75/100 x 16)
6,48,000/-
Loss of Amenities & comfort
1,00,000/-
For permanent disability
1,00,000/-
Attendant Charges
(4,500 x 12 x 16)
8,64,000/-
Loss of marriage prospects
1,00,000/-
TOTAL
25,38,700/-
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10. Sri O.Mahesh, learned counsel appearing for the Insurer
submits that, the MACT erred in considering the permanent
disability to the extent of 75%. He further submits that, the
compensation awarded on all the heads is also on the higher side.
He further submits that, the said accident has taken place because
of negligence on the part of the petitioner, therefore, the MACT is
not right in fixing the liability on the Insurer.
11. As against this, Sri K.V.Naik, learned counsel appearing
for the claimant submits that, claimant has suffered 100%
disability, the income of the petitioner-claimant is not
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