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Judgment
Present is an appeal filed by the claimants under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act assailing the award dated 11/01/2012 passed by the learned
Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, North Bastar, Kanker (C.G.) in Motor Accident Claim Case No. 42/2010.
Vide the impugned award, the Tribunal in a death case has awarded a compensation of Rs.11,01,656/- with interest @ 6% per annum from the date
of application.
The challenge is to the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal.
The counsel for the appellants/claimants submits that, the claimants were entitled for much more compensation than what has been awarded by the
Tribunal. He further submits that, it is a case where the claimants had brought before the Tribunal the previous three years Income Tax Return to
show the annual income of the deceased and in all the three years, the income of the deceased was much more than what has been assessed by the
Tribunal. He further submits that, the Income Tax Return shows that, there was a gradual increase in the income of the deceased as is reflected from
the Income Tax Return of three years which were all filed during the lifetime of the deceased himself and thus the Tribunal should not have taken
Rs.1,00,000/- as the income, but should have taken the actual income of the last year for the purpose of quantification of compensation. He further
submits that, the claimants would also be entitled for a compensation under the future prospects while quantifying the compensation. He further
submits that, the deduction towards the personal expenses also should had been 1/4th rather than 1/3rd as has been done by the Tribunal and thus
prayed for suitable enhancement of the award.
The counsel for the Insurance Company however opposing the appeal submits that, it is a case where the Tribunal has taken fair and reasonable
assessment of income of the deceased and has quantified the same at Rs.1,00,000/- which does not seem to be unreasonable or on the lower side in
any manner and thus the income assessed by the Tribunal does not warrant any interference. He further submits that, so far as the other part of the
award is concerned, the same is based on the material which have been brought on record and therefore there does not appear to be any scope of
enhancement and thus prayed for rejection of the appeal.
Having heard the contentions put forth on either side and on perusal of the evidence which has been brought on record by the claimants it would
show that, the date of accident admittedly is of 25/03/2010. The Income Tax Returns for three previous years i.e. for the assessment years 2007-08,
2008-09 and 2009-10 in which the gross income of the deceased for the year 2007-08 was Rs.1,25,890/-. Next year it was Rs.1,46,500/- and for the
year 2009-10, the income showed at Rs.1,68,840/-. Thus, there was a gradual increase in his gross income each year. In spite of these three
documents which are established income of the deceased, the Tribunal has taken the income of the deceased at Rs.1,00,000/- yearly without there
being any base for reaching to the said figure. Even if we take the average income of the three years, the figure would be more than what has been
assessed by the Tribunal.
Under the given facts and circumstances, this Court assesses the annual income of the deceased at Rs.1,35,000/- for the purpose of quantifying the
compensation instead of Rs.1,00,000/- as assessed by the Tribunal. The claimants would also be entitled for 40% of the income towards future
prospects which come to Rs.54,000/-. If Rs.54,000/- is added to the yearly income, the figure would become Rs.1,89,000/- of which 1/4th is deducted
towards personal expenses considering the total number of dependents, the amount left would be Rs.1,41,750/-which if multiplied by applying multiplier
of 16, the amount would come to Rs.22,68,000/-. Thus, it is ordered accordingly that the claimants shall be entitled for a compensation of
Rs.22,68,000/- towards loss of dependency. In addition, the claimants would also be entitled for an additional amount of Rs.70,000/- towards the
conventional head which would make the total compensation payable to the claimants at Rs.23,38,000/- instead of Rs.11,01,656/- as awarded by the
Tribunal. The said enhanced amount shall also carry interest at the same rate as has been awarded by the Tribunal.
The appeal thus stands allowed and disposed off.