Supreme Court of India, Civil Appeal No. 12993 of 2024, decided on 22-11-2024, arising from High Court of Karnataka judgment in M.F.A. No. 2573 of 2016 (MV), which arose from Tribunal award in M.V.C. No. 3955 of 2009. (!) (!) (!) (!) (!)

Appellant suffered 90-100% permanent disability in motor accident on 22-08-2008 due to collision with lorry driven rashly and negligently; injuries included fracture and dislocation of cervical spine (C6-C7). (!) (!) (!) (!) (!)

Police registered case under relevant IPC sections against lorry driver. (!)

Appellant was employed as workman earning Rs. 28,221/- monthly plus LIC agent commission; post-accident, wheelchair-bound, no sensation/movement below C7, loss of bowel/urinary control, needs assistance for all activities, permanent impairment. (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!)

Tribunal awarded Rs. 58,09,930/- with 6% interest; High Court enhanced to Rs. 78,16,390/- with 6% interest, accepting 100% functional disability and 40% future prospects. (!) (!) (!) (!)

Supreme Court enhanced future prospects to 50% (claimant aged 37, permanent job), recalculating monthly income to Rs. 41,800/-, yielding Rs. 75,24,000/- under loss of future income, total Rs. 87,29,241/- before pain and suffering adjustment. (!) (!) (!) (!) (!)

Pain and suffering encompasses physical discomfort, mental/emotional trauma, shaken self-understanding, sense of irreparable wrong, vulnerability, futility; lifelong in 100% disability cases; Tribunal awarded Rs. 30,000/-, High Court Rs. 40,000/-; Supreme Court enhanced to Rs. 15,00,000/-. (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!)

Total compensation modified to Rs. 1,02,29,241/-, carrying 6% interest from SLP filing date; appeal allowed, no costs. (!) (!)

Just compensation principle: restitutio ad integrum, restoring to pre-accident position as far as possible, though limited; non-pecuniary damages hard to quantify, considering altered life trajectories, dreams, aspirations. (!) (!)