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MFA No. 201443 of 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,
KALABURAGI BENCH
DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF MARCH, 2023
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G BASAVARAJA
MISCL. FIRST APPEAL NO. 201443 OF 2021 (MV-D)
BETWEEN:
1.
KIRAN S/O KALYANRAO DESHPANDE
AGE 38 YEARS,OCC.PRIVATE WORK,
2.
SMT. KATYAYANI W/O KIRAN DESHPANDE
AGE 29 YEARS,OCC.HOUSEHOLD WORK,
BOTH ARE R/O C/O
S.S. KULKARNI,
SANGAMESHWAR COLONY,
NEAR YENTRODHARA
HANUMAN TEMPLE,
GYANG BOUDI,
VIJAYAPURA-586103.
…APPELLANTS
(BY SRI. BAPUGOUDA SIDDAPPA, ADVOCATE)
AND:
THE DIVISIONAL CONTROLLER
DIVISIONAL OFFICE,
N.W.K.R.T.C. BELAGAVI
590001.
…RESPONDENT
(BY SRI A M. PATIL , ADVOCATE)
THIS MFA IS FILED U/S 173(1) OF MV ACT, PRAYING TO
MODIFY THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED 06.04.2021
PASSED IN MVC NO.309/2015 ON THE FILE OF COURT OF THE
IV ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE AND MEMBER
ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL NO.XIII, VIJAYAPUR. AND ALLOW
THIS APPEAL BY ENHANCING THE COMPENSATION.
Digitally signed
by RAMESH
MATHAPATI
Location: High
Court of
Karnataka
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MFA No. 201443 of 2021
THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY,
THE COURT DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
This appeal is preferred by the petitioners challenging the
judgment and award passed by learned MACT-XII, Vijayapur
(for
short
‘the
Tribunal)
in
MVC
No.309/2015
dated
06.04.2021. This appeal is founded on the premise of
inadequacy
of
compensation.
Hence,
appellants
seek
enhancement of compensation.
Though this appeal is listed for admission, with the
consent of learned counsel for both parties, it is taken up for
final disposal.
3.
For the sake of convenience, parties are referred to
as per their ranking before the Claims Tribunal.
4.
The brief facts of the case are as under:
That on 22.11.2014 at 6:30 p.m., near Shiraguppi
village, on Shiraguppi - Kagawad road, petitioner in MVC
No.201/2018 and 202/2018 and deceased Kashyap were
proceeding in KSRTC Bus No.KA-22/F-1889 from Vijayapur to
Belagavi. After Kagawad village, when the Bus was 02 K.Ms.,
away from Shiraguppi village, at that time, the driver of the
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Bus drove the Bus in rash and negligent manner and to avoid
the pot holes, took turn Lorry No.AP-07/Y-4579 and caused
accident. Petitioner towards wrong side and dashed to the
opposite side in MVC No.201/18, 202/18 sustained grievous
injuries and Kashyap sustained grievous injuries and died in the
accident. Due to untimely death of Kashyap the parents are
under shock and agony. Hence, they filed a claim petition
seeking compensation.
5.
After service of notice, respondent-Corporation
appeared before the tribunal through its counsel and filed
written statement denying the contents of claim made by the
claimants and sought for dismissal of the claim petition.
6.
On the basis of pleadings, the Tribunal framed
relevant issues for consideration.
7.
In order to substantiate the issues and to establish
their case, petitioner got examined themeselve as PWs.1 and 2
and got marked documents as Exs.P.1 to 15. On behalf of
respondent got examined RW.1 and no documents were
marked.
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8.
On the basis of material evidence both oral and
documentary and on hearing the submission of learned counsel
for both the parties, the tribunal awarded compensation of
Rs.50,000/- with 6% p.a. to the petitioners. Being aggrieved by
the meager compensation awarded by the Tribunal, the
petitioners are before this Court seeking enhancement.
9.
It is the vehement contention of learned counsel
appearing for the appellants-petitioners submits that the
compensation awarded by the Tribunal is extremely on lower
side and it is liable to be enhanced for the reason that the
Tribunal has not awarded just and reasonable compensation.
He further submits that the tribunal has observed that the
petitioners are entitled for compensation of Rs.3,00,000/-.
However, the tribunal has deducted Rs.2,50,000/- which was
given as interim compesation out of the Accident Relife Fund of
the Corporation, which cannot be taken into consideration in
view of the Circular issued by the Corporation No.937/2008
dated 26.08.2008. On this ground learned counsel seeks
indulgence of this Court to allow the appeal and consequently
enhance the compensation. In support of his arguments, he
placed reliance on the judgment of the Hon’ble Apex court in
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Kishan Gopal and another Vs.Lala and others reported in
2013 AIR SCW 5037. He vehemently contended that the
tribunal ought to have award at least 5,00,000/- with interest
at the rate of 9% p.a.
10.
Per contra, the learned counsel appearing for the
respondent-Corporatlion
vehemently
contends
that
the
Judgment and Award passed by the Tribunal is in accordance
with law and there is no scope of interference. However, he has
not disputed the circular issued by the Corporation. On these
grounds he seeks to dismiss the appeal preferred by the
appellants.
11.
Having
heard
the
learned
counsel
for
the
appellants-petitioners and learned counsel for respondent-
Corporation, the points that would arise for consideration
before this Court are:
a.
Whether the Tribunal has committed an error in
awarding meager compensation of Rs.50,00