*IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ MAC.APP.No.117/2004
Date of Decision: 21st April, 2010
%
JAGDISH ..... Appellant
Through : Mr. O.P. Mannie, Adv.
versus
RAVI KUMAR & ORS. ..... Respondents
Through : Mr. Mirza Aslam Beg, Adv.
for Ms. Sonia Sharma, Adv.
for R-3.
CORAM :-
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE J.R. MIDHA
1. Whether Reporters of Local papers may YES
be allowed to see the Judgment?
2. To be referred to the Reporter or not? YES
3. Whether the judgment should be YES
reported in the Digest?
JUDGMENT (Oral)
1. The appellant has challenged the award of the learned Tribunal whereby compensation of Rs.54,000/- has been awarded to the appellant. The appellant seeks enhancement of the award amount.
2. The accident dated 28th November, 1995 resulted in grievous injuries to the appellant. The appellant suffered fracture of nasal bone. The appellant had to undergo surgery of nasal bone on which he spent Rs.43,000/-. The appellant remained under treatment for more than two months.
3. The Claims Tribunal has awarded Rs.43,000/- towards medical expenditure, Rs.4,000/- for loss of income for two months, Rs.5,000/- towards pain and suffering and Rs.2,000/- MAC.APP.No.117/2004 Page 1 of 5 for conveyance and special diet. The total compensation awarded is Rs.54,000/-.
4. The learned counsel for the appellant urged following grounds at the time of hearing of this appeal:-
(i) The compensation for loss of income be awarded for four months.
(ii) The compensation for pain and suffering be enhanced.
(iii) Compensation for loss of amenities of life and disfiguration be awarded.
(iv) The rate of interest be enhanced from 6% to 7.5% per annum.
5. Considering the nature of injuries suffered by the appellant, the compensation for pain and suffering is enhanced from Rs.5,000/- to Rs.25,000/-. The Claims Tribunal has not awarded any compensation for loss of amenities of life and disfiguration. Rs.25,000/- is awarded for loss of amenities of life and disfiguration. The Claims Tribunal has awarded only Rs.4,000/- towards loss of income for two months. The claimant could not attend his work for four months and, therefore, the compensation for loss of income is enhanced from Rs.4,000/- to Rs.8,000/-. The compensation towards the medial expenditure, conveyance and special diet does not call for any interference and is upheld. The Claims Tribunal has awarded interest @ 6% per annum which is enhanced to 7.5% per annum following the MAC.APP.No.117/2004 Page 2 of 5 judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Dharampal & Ors. vs. U.P. State Road Transport Corporation, III 2008 ACC (1) SC.
6. The claimant is entitled to total compensation of Rs.1,03,000/- (Rs.43,000/- towards medical expenditure, Rs.8,000/- towards loss of income for four months, Rs.25,000/- towards pain and suffering, Rs.25,000/- towards loss of amenities of life and disfiguration and Rs.2,000/- towards conveyance and special diet).
7. The appeal is allowed with costs. The award amount is enhanced from Rs.54,000/- to Rs.1,03,000/- along with interest @ 7.5% per annum from the date of filing of the petition till realization. The cost of the appeal is assessed at Rs.10,000/-.
8. After making the payment of the award amount, respondent No.3 shall be entitled to recover the same from respondent No.2.
9. The enhanced award amount along with up to date interest be deposited by respondent No.3 with UCO Bank A/c Jagdish, Delhi High Court Branch within 30 days. The cost of Rs.10,000/- of this appeal be deposited by respondent No.3 by means of separate cheque in the name of O.P. Mannie, Advocate along with the deposit of the enhanced award amount. In view of the judgment of this Court in Sat Prakash vs. Jagdish, FAO.No.365/1999 decided on 26 th March, 2010, the legal fee of the counsel for respondent MAC.APP.No.117/2004 Page 3 of 5 No.3 be also deposited with UCO Bank by means of a separate cheque in the name of Ms. Sonia Sharma, Advocate.
10. Upon the aforesaid deposit being made, the UCO Bank is directed to release 25% of the amount to the appellant by transferring the same to his Saving Bank Account. The remaining amount be kept in the name of the appellant in fixed deposit in the following manner:-
(i) Fixed deposit in respect of 25% of the amount for a period of one year with cumulative interest.
(ii) Fixed deposit in respect of 25% of the amount for a period of two years with cumulative interest.
(iii) Fixed deposit in respect of 25% of the amount for a period of three years with cumulative interest.
11. The Bank shall issue Fixed Deposit Pass Book instead of the FDRs to the appellant and the maturity amount of the FDRs be automatically credited to the Saving Bank Account of the beneficiary at the end of the FDR.
12. No loan, advance or withdrawal shall be allowed on the said fixed deposit receipts without the permission of this Court.
13. On the request of the appellant, the Bank shall transfer the Savings Account to any other branch according to the convenience of the appellant.
14. The appellant shall furnish all the relevant documents for opening of the Saving Bank Account and Fixed Deposit Account to Mr. M.M. Tandon, Member-Retail Team, UCO Bank MAC.APP.No.117/2004 Page 4 of 5 Zonal, Parliament Street, New Delhi.
15. Copy of the order be given dasti to counsel for both the parties under the signatures of the Court Master.
16. Copy of this order be also sent to Mr. M.M. Tandon, Member-Retail Team, UCO Bank Zonal, Parliament Street, New Delhi (Mobile No. 09310356400) through the UCO Bank, High Court Branch under the signature of Court Master.
J.R. MIDHA, J APRIL 21, 2010 mk MAC.APP.No.117/2004 Page 5 of 5