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Judgment
J.R. Midha, J
The appellants have challenged the award of the Claims Tribunal whereby compensation of Rs.10,16,000/- has been awarded to claimants in both
the appeals.
On 20th August, 2014, late Vishan Dass was crossing the road when he was hit by motorcycle bearing No.DL-7S-BJ-7619 which resulted in fatal
injuries to late Vishan Dass. The deceased was aged 68 years and was survived by his widow and three sons who filed the application for
compensation before the Claims Tribunal. The deceased had retired as Senior Assistant from State Bank of India and was drawing pension of
Rs.16,353/-. The widow of the deceased, after the death of late Vishan Dass, is getting family pension of Rs.5,825/- per month. According to the
claimants, the deceased was doing property dealing business from which he was earning about Rs.10,000/- per month.
The Claims Tribunal took the income of the deceased as Rs.20,528/-(Rs.10,528/- from loss of pension + Rs.10,000/- as income from the property
dealing business), deducted ½ towards his personal expenses and applied the multiplier of 5 to compute the loss of dependency to Rs.6,16,000/-. The
Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.1,50,000/- towards loss of love and affection, Rs.1,50000/- towards loss of consortium, Rs.50,000/- towards funeral
expenses and Rs.50,000/- towards loss of estate. The total compensation awarded is Rs.10,16,000/-.
Learned counsel for the appellant urged at the time of hearing that the income of the deceased has been wrongly taken as Rs.20,528/-. It is
submitted that the loss of income of the deceased be taken as Rs.10,528/-(difference between pension of the deceased i.e. Rs.16,353/- and the family
pension of Rs.5,825/- being received by the widow). It is further submitted that the non-pecuniary compensation be reduced in terms of the judgment
of Supreme Court in Pranay Sethi vs. National Insurance Co. Limited 2017 SCC Online 1117.
The record of the Claims Tribunal has been perused. The deceased was getting pension of Rs.16,353/- at the time of the accident and after his
death, the widow of the deceased is getting family pension of Rs.5,825/-. As such, the claimants have suffered loss of Rs.10,528/- per month
(Rs.16,353/- ‒ Rs.5,825/-). According to the claimants, the deceased was doing the property dealing business but the claimants were not able to prove
the same. As such, the income of the deceased is taken as Rs.10,528/- per month (Rs.16,353/- ‒ Rs.5,825/-). The Claims Tribunal deducted ½
towards the personal expenses of the deceased whereas the appropriate deduction towards the personal expenses has to be 1/3. Taking the income of
the deceased as Rs.10,528/-, deducting 1/3 towards the personal expenses and applying the multiplier of 5, the loss of dependency is computed as
Rs.4,21,120/-. The claimants are awarded Rs.40,000/- towards loss of consortium, Rs.15,000/- towards of estate and Rs.15,000/- towards funeral
expenses in terms of the judgment of Supreme Court in Pranay Sethi vs. National Insurance Co. Limited 2017 SCC Online 1117. The claimants are
further awarded Rs.8,880/- towards loss of love and affection. The claimants are entitled to total compensation of Rs.5,00,000/- along with interest @
9% per annum from the date of institution of claim petition i.e. 16th September, 2014.
Both the appeals are allowed and the compensation amount is reduced from Rs.10,16,000/- to Rs.5,00,000/- along with interest @ 9% per annum
from the date of institution i.e. 16th September, 2014.
The appellant in MAC.APP.676/2017 has deposited Rs.2,54,000/-with the Claims Tribunal. The Claims Tribunal is directed to release the amount of
Rs.2,54,000/- deposited by the appellant in MAC.APP.676/2017 by transferring the same to savings bank account No.10259272090 of respondent
No.1, Sushila Rani with State Bank of India, G.T. Road, Shahdara Branch, IFSC Code: SBIN0001189, Branch Code: 01189.
The Registrar General is directed to release the statutory amount of Rs.25,000/- along with interest thereon in MAC.APP.676/2017 and Rs.25,000/-
along with interest thereon in MAC.APP.987/2017 by instructing UCO Bank, Delhi High Court Branch by transferring the said amounts to aforesaid
savings bank account of respondent No.1 with State Bank of India, G.T. Road, Shahdara Branch.
The total liability of the appellants as on today including up to date interest is Rs. 6,74,330/- (Rs.6,74,328.77 rounded off) out of which Rs.3,04,000/-
(Rs.2,54,000/- + Rs.25,000/- + Rs.25,000/-) has been directed to be released today. With respect to the balance amount of Rs.3,70,330/-, the appellant
in MAC.APP.676/2017 has handed over the post dated cheque for Rs.40,000/- to learned counsel for respondent No.1.
The appellant in MAC.APP.987/2017 undertakes to pay the balance amount for Rs. 3,30,330/- in four quarterly installments by transferring the
same to the aforesaid savings bank account of respondent No.1. The undertaking of the appellant in MAC.APP.987/2017 is hereby accepted.
In the event of failure of the undertaking, the respondents would be entitled to initiate appropriate proceedings against the appellant in
MAC.APP.987/2017 for recovery of the amount in accordance with the law as well as for violation of the undertaking.
Copy of this judgment be given dasti to learned counsels for the parties under signature of Court Master.