Bimla Rani and Others vs Harbhajan Singh and Others

G.P. Mittal, J.—The Appellants seek enhancement of compensation of Rs.85,000/- awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (the

Claims Tribunal) for the death of Amar Nath who died in a motor vehicle accident which occurred on 06.06.1995. In the absence of any Appeal

by the driver, owner or the insurer, the finding on negligence has attained finality.

During inquiry before the Claims Tribunal, it was claimed that the deceased Amar Nath was running a shop and earning Rs.2,900/- per month.

In the absence of any evidence with regard to the deceased''s income, the Claims Tribunal took minimum wages of an unskilled worker, deducted

1/3rd towards personal and living expenses, applied a multiplier of 5 considering that the children were adults.

It is urged by the learned counsel for the Appellants that the compensation awarded is too meagre keeping in view that the deceased was

running a shop and his income should have been taken to be at least that of a semi-skilled person. Moreover, there were seven dependents, thus,

there should have been deduction of 1/10th of the deceased''s income towards personal and living expenses. Reliance is placed on New India

Assurance Company Ltd. Vs. Gopali and Others, .

No evidence was led by the Appellants to prove that the four adults, i.e., two son and two daughters were dependent on the deceased. In the

circumstances, it was only the First Appellant who was primarily dependent on the deceased, at the most it could be said that the deceased also

had the responsibility of his two daughters although they were not financially dependent, but yet to be married. In the circumstances, deduction

towards personal and living expenses would be 1/4th and not 1/10th. Gopali cited by the learned counsel for the Appellants is not attracted to the

facts of the present case.

In the circumstances of the case, I would award a compensation taking the deceased''s income as that of a semi skilled person. The Appellants

would not be entitled to any addition as the deceased was aged 55 years. The loss of dependency thus comes to Rs.1,64,439/- ( Rs.1,661/- x 3/4

x 12 x 11).

I would make a provision of Rs.25,000/- towards love and affection and Rs.5,000/- each towards loss to estate, loss of consortium and funeral

expenses. The overall compensation thus comes to Rs.2,04,439/-.

Thus, there is an enhancement of Rs.1,19,439/-. The enhanced compensation shall carry interest @ 7.5% per annum from the date of filing of

the Petition till its payment.

The Respondent No. 2 National Insurance Company Ltd. is directed to deposit the enhanced compensation along with interest with the Claims

Tribunal within six weeks which shall enure for the benefit of the First Appellant.

The Appeal is allowed in above terms. Pending Applications stand disposed of.