Karnataka High Court
Channegowda vs Singrigowda on 28 November, 2025
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NC: 2025:KHC:50058-DB
MFA No. 6245 of 2018
C/W MFA No. 8484 of 2017
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH
AND
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K
MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO.6245 OF 2018(MV-D)
C/W
MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO.8484 OF 2017(MV-D)
IN MFA No. 6245/2018
BETWEEN:
CHANNEGOWDA
AGED 50 YEARS
SINCE DED BY LRS
1. LAKSHMAMMA
AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS
W/O LATE CHANNEGOWDA
Digitally signed
by PANKAJA S
2. KESHAVEGOWDA
Location: HIGH
COURT OF AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS
KARNATAKA S/O LATE CHANNEGOWDA
3. GEETHA
AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS
D/O LATE CHANNEGOWDA
4. NAGARAJA
S/O LATE CHANNEGOWDA
AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS
ALL ARE R/A YAREHALLI VILLAGE
MANCHANAHALLI POST,
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NC: 2025:KHC:50058-DB
MFA No. 6245 of 2018
C/W MFA No. 8484 of 2017
HC-KAR
KASABA HOBLI
HASSAN TALUK
...APPELLANTS
(BY SMT. KAVITHA H.C, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. SINGRIGOWDA
S/O LATE MELEGOWDA
R/O B KATIHALLI VILLAGE
GAVENHALLI POST, KASABA HOBLI
HASSAN-573 201
(OWNER OF MOTOR BIKE BEARING
REGISTRATION NO.KA-13-L-9381)
2. THE MANAGER
THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE
COMPANY LIMITED, CHANDANA COMPLEX
HARSHA MAHAL ROAD, HASSAN
POLICY NO.673401311201014891
VALID 27.03.2013 TO 26.03.2014
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. A.N. KRISHNASWAMY, ADVOCATE FOR R2,
R1 - SERVED - UNREPRESENTED)
MFA FILED U/S 173(1) OF MV ACT AGAINST THE
JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED: 03.06.2017 PASSED IN MVC
NO.1219/2014 ON THE FILE OF THE II ADDITIONAL SENIOR
CIVIL JUDGE & MACT, HASSAN, PARTLY ALLOWING THE CLAIM
PETITION FOR COMPENSATION AND SEEKING ENHANCEMENT
OF COMPENSATION.
IN MFA NO. 8484/2017
BETWEEN:
1. THE MANAGER
THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO.LTD.,
CHANDANA COMPLEX, HARSHA
MAHAL ROAD, HASSAN,
-3-
NC: 2025:KHC:50058-DB
MFA No. 6245 of 2018
C/W MFA No. 8484 of 2017
HC-KAR
NOW REPRESENTED BY ITS,
REGIONAL MANAGER,
NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO.LTD.,
REGIONAL OFFICE, 2-B,
UNITY BUILDING ANNEXE, P.
KALINGA RAO ROAD, BENGALURU-560 027
...APPELLANT
(BY SRI. A.N KRISHNASWAMY, ADVOCATE)
AND:
CHANNEGOWDA
SINCE DEAD BY LRS
1. SMT. LAKSHMAMMA,
W/O LATE CHANNEGOWDA,
AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS,
2. KESHAVEGOWDA
S/O LATE CHANNEGOWDA,
NOW AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS
3. GEETHA
D/O LATE CHANNEGOWDA,
NOW AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS
4. NAGARAJA
S/O LATE CHANNEGOWDA,
NOW AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS
ALL R/O YAREHALLI VILLAGE,
MANICHANAHALLI POST,
KASABA HOBLI, HASSAN-573 201
5. SINGRIGOWDA
S/O LATE MELEGOWDA, MAJOR,
R/O KATIHALLI VILLAGE,
GAVENHALLI POST,
KASABA HOBLI,
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NC: 2025:KHC:50058-DB
MFA No. 6245 of 2018
C/W MFA No. 8484 of 2017
HC-KAR
HASSAN-573 201
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SMT. KAVITHA H.C, ADVOCATE FOR R1-R4,
R5 - SERVED - UNREPRESENTED)
THIS MFA IS FILED U/S 173(1) OF MV ACT AGAINST
THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED 03.06.2017 PASSED
IN MVC NO.1219/2014 ON THE FILE OF II ADDITIONAL
SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE & MACT, HASSAN. AWARDING
COMPENSATION OF RS.6,61,185/- WITH INTEREST @
8%P.A. FROM THE DATE OF PETITION TILL REALIZATION.
THESE APPEALS, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS
DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH
and
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K
ORAL JUDGMENT
(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K)
1. In respect of an accident occurred on 17.02.2014 and facts, which are not in dispute, the Tribunal vide judgment and award dated 03.06.2017 has awarded a sum of Rs.6,61,185/- as compensation towards the death of one Channegowda, who was a pillion rider. Aggrieved by the award, the claimants have filed MFA.6245/2018 seeking enhancement of compensation, the insurer has filed MFA.8484/2018 challenging the liability and quantum. -5-
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2. The learned counsel for the claimants contended that the sums awarded by the Tribunal under different heads are meager. He also contended that the Tribunal has not properly assessed the income of the deceased, who was working as a Watchman, Coolie and Agriculturist and was earning Rs.25,000/- per month. As such, he prays to allow the appeal of the claimants by enhancing the compensation and dismiss the appeal of the insurer.
3. To buttress her arguments as regards the nexus between the injury and death and the consequent prosecution of claim petition by the legal representatives, she relied on the following judgments:
1. Afsana and Others vs. Kundu Knit Fab Pvt. Ltd. and another - 2022 ACJ 754;
2. Dhannalal Alias Dhanraj (Dead) Thr. LRs.
vs. Nasir Khan and Others - 2025 SCC OnLine 2083;
4. Per contra, learned counsel for the insurer contended that the Tribunal has grossly erred in saddling liability on -6- NC: 2025:KHC:50058-DB MFA No. 6245 of 2018 C/W MFA No. 8484 of 2017 HC-KAR the insurer though the death of Channegowda had no nexus with the injuries sustained by him in the accident occurred on 17.02.2014, that too when said Channegowda died on 09.05.2015 nearly after 15 months from the date of the accident. He also contended that the sums awarded under different heads and the award of interest are exorbitant. He also contended that the Tribunal has failed to notice the provisions of Section 306 of Indian Succession Act before permitting the claimants-the legal heirs of deceased to come on record. As such, he prays to allow the appeal of the insurer and dismiss the appeal of the claimants.
5. We have carefully perused the impugned award and also the Trial Court records.
6. The accident in question is not in dispute. However, the death of Channegowda due to the accident is in dispute. As could be gathered from records, the accident had occurred on 17.02.2014 and Channegowda died on -7- NC: 2025:KHC:50058-DB MFA No. 6245 of 2018 C/W MFA No. 8484 of 2017 HC-KAR 09.05.2015 i.e., much later after his discharge while his wounds were not completely healed. Further, as per the evidence of the Doctor, septicemia or death due to fat embolism can occur as sudden event. Even he has opined that the risk of heart attack is more with the persons who suffered amputation and that amputation may lead to depression and other diseases. Since, Channegowda was bedridden and had suffered septicemia, there is strong probability that Channegowda died due to the direct result of injuries sustained by him in the accident. The judgment cited supra supports the aforesaid aspect.
7. Further, as the relationship between the deceased Channegowda and the claimants is not in dispute, the contention of the learned counsel for the insurer that they are not entitled for compensation cannot be accepted. As such, we are of the opinion that the Tribunal has rightly come to the conclusion that the death was due to the -8- NC: 2025:KHC:50058-DB MFA No. 6245 of 2018 C/W MFA No. 8484 of 2017 HC-KAR accident and has rightly saddled the liability on the insurer.
8. As regards quantum of compensation, since the accident was of the year 2014, it would be appropriate to adopt the notional income determined by the Karnataka State Legal Services, which would be Rs.8,500/-. Since the deceased was aged 58 years as on the date of the accident and was self employed, 10% requires to be added towards future prospects and the multiplier to be adopted is '9' and 1/3rd requires to be deducted towards personal expenses. Thus, the claimants would be entitled to the loss of dependency at Rs.6,73,272/- (Rs.8,500 + 10% - 1/3 X 12 X 9).
9. The claimant No.1, being the wife is only entitled for Rs.48,400/- towards loss of consortium as the other claimants were not dependent on the deceased. The claimants were also entitled for Rs.36,300/- under conventional heads as per the judgment in the case of -9- NC: 2025:KHC:50058-DB MFA No. 6245 of 2018 C/W MFA No. 8484 of 2017 HC-KAR NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED VS. PRANAY SETHI & OTHERS - (2017) 16 SCC 680.
10. Thus, the claimants, in modification of the impugned award, would be entitled to the following sums:
Sl.
Amount
Particulars (In
Rs.)
1. Loss of Dependency 6,73,272
2. Loss of Consortium 48,400
3. Conventional Heads 36,300
Total 7,57,972
11. Thus, the claimants would be entitled for
compensation of Rs.7,57,972/- as against the
compensation awarded by the Tribunal at Rs.6,61,185/- along with interest at the rate of 6% per annum instead of 8% p.a. from the date of petition till its realization.
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12. The insurer is directed to deposit the amount of compensation awarded within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment.
13. The amount in deposit, if any, before this Court shall be transferred to the Tribunal.
14. The apportionment of compensation would be in terms of the award of the Tribunal.
15. Accordingly, the appeal of the claimants and the appeal of the insurer are allowed in part.
SD/-
(D K SINGH) JUDGE SD/-
(RAJESH RAI K) JUDGE PKS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 17