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Judgment
C.S. Karnan, J.—The above Civil Miscellaneous Appeal has been filed by the Appellant/Respondent against the Award and Decree, dated
17.11.2005, made in M.C.O.P. No. 65 of 2005, on the file of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Additional District & Sessions Court, Fast
Track Court, Thirupathur, awarding a compensation of Rs. 2,14,832/- together with 7.5% interest per annum, from the date of filing the claim
petition till the date of payment of compensation.
Aggrieved by the said Award and Decree, the Appellant/Respondent has filed the above appeal praying to scale down the award and decree
passed by the Tribunal.
The short facts of the case are as follows:
On 30.08.2003, at about 12.00 hours, the Petitioner was proceeding in his TVS50 motorcycle bearing registration No. TN29 Z9855, from
Aandiyappanur to Mittur, by slowly, cautiously, observing all the rules of the road with sounding horn, keeping to the extreme left side of the road.
When he was nearing Aandiyappanur Manicka Gounder''s Coconut Thope, the Respondent''s Corporation bus bearing registration No. TN23
N1333, driven by its driver, was coming in the opposite direction, in a rash and reckless manner, without observing any rules of the road, without
sounding horn and at an uncontrollable speed and suddenly hit against the Petitioner''s motorcycle. Due to the impact, the Petitioner was thrown
out at a distance and sustained severe injuries and his motorcycle was also completely damaged in the accident. Immediately, after the said
accident, he was taken to the Government Hospital, Tiruppattur, after given first aid he was referred to Ortho Surgeon G.V.M.C. Hospital,
Vellore for management of multiple fractures and blood transfusion. Thereafter, he was admitted in Vellore C.M.C.Hospital as inpatient from
31.08.2003 to 08.09.2003. In the said accident, his right leg both bones were fractured and sustained injuries over just above right eyebrow,
below right eye, left elbow and also sustained multiple injuries all over his body. Regarding the said accident, a criminal case has been registered by
the Kurisilappattu Police Station, in Crime No. 232/2003, under Sections 279 and 338 I.P.C. The accident had been occurred only due to the
rash and negligent driving of the driver of the Respondent''s Corporation bus. As such, he claimed a compensation of Rs. 5,00,000/- with interest
before the Tribunal.
The Respondent, in their Counter, had resisted the claim petition. The allegations made by the claimant stating that the road accident had been
committed by the Respondent''s Corporation bus driver, which is stoutly denied by them. Actually the driver of the bus had observed all traffic
rules and had driven the bus cautiously. But, the claimant rode his motorcycle at high speed and in a rash and negligent manner and dashed against
the bus, while the bus was in a stationary position at the left side of the road. As such, the accident had been occurred. The Respondent has not
admitted the age, income and profession of the claimant. In the said claim petition, the owner and the insurer are also not included in the claim case.
Hence, the Respondent prays to dismiss the claim petition.
The learned Motor Accident Claims Tribunal framed two issues for the consideration namely:
(i) Who is responsible for the said accident?
(ii) Whether the Respondent is liable to pay compensation to the Petitioner?
On the Petitioner''s side, the claimant himself was examined as PW1 and Dr. Elangovan was examined as PW2 and seven documents were
marked as Exs.P1 to P8 namely Ex.P1-Xerox copy of the First Information Report, Ex.P2-Xerox copy of the Wound Certificate issued by the
C.M.C.Hospital, Vellore, Ex.P3-Xerox copy of the Registration Certificate registered at Thiruppattur Hospital regarding the accident, Ex.P4-
Receipts issued by the C.M.C.Hospital, Ex.P5-Disability Certificate, Ex.P6-X-ray, Ex.P7-Rental Car Receipt, Ex.P8-Receipts for getting
treatment in Puthur Bone Hospital. On the Respondent''s side one Seetharaman, the driver of the bus, was examined as RW1 and and the
judgment copy of the Judicial Magistrate was marked as Ex.R1.
The claimant, PW1 had adduced evidence stating that on 30.08.2003 he was proceeding on his TVS50 motorcycle bearing registration No.
TN29 Z9855 from Aandiyappanur to Mittur. While he was nearing the Alangayam main road, the Respondent''s Corporation bus was coming in
the opposite direction at high speed and dashed against him. In the result, he sustained bone fracture injuries. Immediately, he was taken to the
Government Hospital, Thiruppattur for preliminary treatment. Thereafter, he was referred to the C.M.C.Hospital, Vellore for specialized treatment.
Further he adduced evidence stating that he had sustained injury on his right thigh, right leg bone fracture, right eye brow and the right eye below,
left hand fore arm had sustained injuries. In order to prove the nature of the accident, type of injuries, mode of treatment and duration of treatment,
he had marked Ex.P1-First Information Report, Ex.P2-Wound Certificate, Ex.P3-Accident Register, Ex.P4-Medical Bill Series, Ex.P5-Disability
Certificate, Ex.P6-X-ray, Ex.P7-Taxi fare receipt and Ex.P8-Puthur Bone Setting Hospital Treatment particulars.
PW2, Dr. Elangovan had adduced evidence stating that he had examined the claimant on 30.06.2005 and scrutinised the relevant medical
records of the claimant and also took an X-ray and assessed the disability of the claimant as 65% sustained. Further, he adduced evidence stating
that the claimant''s right leg tibia bone had dislocated and a surgical operation was performed on his right leg. His right shoulder bone is also bent
and deformed and his right leg got shortened by 3.5 Cms., Further, he adduced evidence stating that he is unable to walk squat and stand without
any support.
RW1, Seetharaman had adduced evidence stating that he is working as a driver of the Respondent''s Corporation. On 30.08.2003 at about
11.30 a.m. he took a trip from Alangayam and when the bus was nearing Aandiyappanur and at that point of time the claimant was coming in the
opposite direction at high speed and on noticing the same he stationed the bus on the side of the road, despite this precaution taken, he dashed
against the bus and in this way the accident had happened. Further, he adduced evidence stating that the accident case was registered against him
and subsequently he was acquitted from the criminal proceedings.
After considering the evidence of PW1, PW2 and PW3 and documents, which were marked by the claimant, the learned Tribunal had come
to the conclusion that the driver of the Respondent''s Corporation bus had committed the accident, therefore the Respondent/Transport
Corporation Ltd., is liable to pay compensation and awarded the compensation as follows:
i. Rs. 65,000/- under the grievous injuries and 65% disability,
ii. Rs. 40,000/- under the head of pain and suffering,
iii. Rs. 10,000/- under the head of transport expenses,
iv. Rs. 5,000/- under the head of nutrition,
v. Rs. 3,000/- under the head of attender charges,
vi. Rs. 10,000/- under the head of loss of income,
vii. Rs. 20,000/- under the head of medical expenses to remove the steel plate from his hand,
viii. Rs. 10,000/- under the head of loss of earning capacity,
ix. Rs. 46,942/- under the head of medical expenses,
x. Rs. 1,800/- under the head of Taxi fare,
xi. Rs. 3,090/- under the head of medical expenses, treatment taken in Putthur Bone Hospital.
In total, the Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs. 2,14,832/- as compensation to the Petitioner, together with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from
the date of filing the claim petition till the date of payment of compensation. Further, the Tribunal directed the Respondent to deposit the
compensation amount of Rs. 2,14,832/- together with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of filing the claim petition till the date of
payment of compensation, within a period of sixty days from the date of its order. In turn, the said amount to be deposited, under a fixed deposit
scheme, in a nationalised bank for a period three years. Accordingly ordered.
Aggrieved by the said Award and Decree, the Appellant/Respondent has filed the above appeal praying to scale down the award and decree
passed by the Tribunal.
The learned Counsel appearing for the Appellant argued that the Doctor assessed the disability at 65%, which is on the higher side. Further,
the Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs. 40,000/-under the head of pain and suffering, which is also on higher side. Further, the learned Counsel argued
that the Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs. 10,000/- under the head of transport expenses, which is also on higher side, since the Tribunal had
awarded a sum of Rs. 1,800/- as taxi fare. Therefore, he submitted that the award passed by the Tribunal is an excessive and exorbitant one.
Hence, he prays to scale down the compensation amount awarded by the Tribunal.
Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the arguments advanced by the learned Counsel appearing for the Appellant and the
award and decree passed by the Tribunal, this Court is of the view that the quantum of compensation is fair and equitable. Therefore, this Court
concurs with the same. However, the award amount of Rs. 40,000/- under the head of pain and suffering is on higher side. Hence, this Court
reduces it to Rs. 15,000/-. The excess amount of Rs. 25,000/- is ordered with attender charges, since the claimant''s right leg got shortened by 3.5
cms. and he requires help for mobility. Consequently, there is no discrepancy in the award and decree passed by the Tribunal.
On 13.07.2006, this Court directed the Appellant to deposit 50% of the award amount, into the credit of the M.C.O.P. No. 65 of 2005, on
the file of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Additional District & Sessions Court, Fast Track Court, Thirupathur and on 16.03.2007, this
Court permitted the claimant to withdraw the 75% of the amount so deposited, lying in the credit of the M.C.O.P. No. 65 of 2005, on the file of
the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Additional District & Sessions Court, Fast Track Court, Thirupathur.
Now this Court directs the Appellant/State Transport Corporation Ltd., to deposit the remaining compensation amount as per the Tribunal
award with accrued interest thereon, into the credit of the M.C.O.P. No. 65 of 2005, on the file of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal,
Additional District & Sessions Court, Fast Track Court, Thirupathur, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
After such a deposit being made, it is open to the claimant to withdraw the entire compensation amount with accrued interest thereon, lying in the
credit of the M.C.O.P. No. 65 of 2005, on the file of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Additional District & Sessions Court, Fast Track
Court, Thirupathur, by making proper payment out application, subject to the deduction of withdrawals, if any, in accordance with law.
In the result, this Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is dismissed and the Award and Decree, dated 17.11.2005, made in M.C.O.P. No. 65 of 2005,
on the file of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Additional District & Sessions Court, Fast Track Court, Thirupathur is confirmed.
Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. No costs.