Telangana High Court
N Chander vs L Subhadra And Another on 20 February, 2024
THE HONOURABLE SMT. JUSTICE M.G.PRIYADARSINI
CIVIL MISCELLANEOUS APPEAL No.288 of 2014
JUDGMENT:
1. The Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is directed against order dated 01.09.2012 in W.C.No.114 of 2003 (NF) on the file of the Commissioner for Employees' Compensation-cum-Deputy Commissioner of Labour, Nizamabad (hereinafter referred to as 'the Commissioner'). The said claim application was filed by the applicant therein seeking compensation for injuries sustained by him in an accident that occurred on 12.03.2002 and the same was partly allowed by the Commissioner granting compensation of Rs.1,52,671/-. Dissatisfied with the same, the present Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is filed at the instance of the applicant before the Commissioner seeking enhancement of compensation and grant of interest.
2. The appellant herein is applicant and respondents herein are opposite parties before the Commissioner. For the sake of convenience, the parties are hereinafter referred to as they were arrayed before the Commissioner.
3. The brief facts of the case of the applicant are that he was working as driver on tractor and trolley bearing Nos.AP 25 G 5316 2 MGP,J CMA_288_2014 and AP 25 G 9410 under the employment of opposite party No.1. On 12.03.2002, while the applicant was driving the said tractor and trolley along with labourers after loading cow dung from Keshpally village to Wesleynagar to unload cow dung in agricultural lands, at about 07:00 PM, when the tractor and trolley reached Keshpally X road in the limits of Sikindrapur village at the turning of National Highway No.7 road, the applicant lost control over the same and the tractor and trolley turned turtle and went off the road and fell in a ditch by the road side. Due to the said accident, the applicant and labourers of the said tractor and trolley sustained multiple fractures and grievous injuries. The applicant sustained fracture of left clavicle, injuries to left forearm, injuries to left elbow. Immediately, the applicant and others were shifted to a hospital in Nizamabad and later, the applicant took treatment in various hospital and incurred a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- towards medical expenditure. In this regard, a case was registered in Crime No.24 of 2002 by Jakranpally Police against the applicant and charge sheet was laid under Section 338 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
4. It is further the case of the applicant that the said accident occurred during the course and out of his employment as driver 3 MGP,J CMA_288_2014 under opposite party No.1. According to the applicant, he was aged about 29 years as on the date of the accident and he was being paid an amount of Rs.3,600/- per month towards wages and Rs.40/- per day towards batha by opposite party No.1. Opposite party No.1 being the owner and opposite party No.2 being insurer of the vehicle involved in the accident are liable to pay compensation. Hence, the present claim application is filed by the applicant seeking compensation of Rs.2,00,000/- for the injuries sustained by him.
5. Opposite party No.1 filed his written statement and admitted the employment of applicant under him. He also admitted that he was owner of the tractor and trolley bearing Nos.AP 25 G 5136 and AP 25 G 9410 and stated that the said vehicle was insured with opposite party No.2 under valid and effective policy as on the date of the accident. He admitted that the applicant was being paid an amount of Rs.3,600/- towards monthly wages and Rs.40/- per day towards batha. He also contended that the tractor and trolley involved in the accident was insured with opposite party No.2, as such, if there is any liability opposite party No.2 alone is liable to pay. Therefore, prayed to dismiss case against him.
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6. Opposite party No.2 filed its written statement denying the averments of the claim application such as age, wages, employment of the applicant under opposite party No.1, occurrence of the accident and also injuries sustained by the applicant. It is also contended that the applicant was not having valid driving license as on the date of the accident. Opposite party No.2 prayed to dismiss the claim application as the compensation claimed by the applicant is excess and exorbitant.
7. In support of his case, the applicant got examined himself as A.W.1 and also examined A.W.2 and got marked Exs.A-1 to A-9. No oral or documentary evidence was adduced by opposite party No.1. On behalf of opposite party No.2, no oral evidence was adduced, but Ex.B-1 was got marked.
8. On the basis of the above pleadings and evidence, the Commissioner framed the following issues:
"1. Whether the injured/applicant N. Chander met with an accident on 12-03-2002 during the course and out of his employment as driver on the tractor and trolley bearing Nos.AP 25 G 5316 and AP 25 G 9410 under the employment of 1st opposite party and sustained injuries?
2. If yes, what is the percentage of the physical disability and consequent loss of earning capacity suffered by the applicant?5
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3. Who are liable to pay compensation? And
4. What is quantum of compensation entitled by the applicant?"
9. After considering the evidence and documents filed by both sides, the Commissioner awarded an amount of Rs.1,52,671/- towards compensation to the applicant. Dissatisfied with the same, the present appeal is filed seeking enhancement of compensation by the applicant.
10. Heard, the learned counsel for the appellant and the learned standing counsel for respondent No.2.
11. The main contention of the learned counsel for the applicant/appellant is that the Commissioner erred in not granting interest at 12% per annum from the date of accident on the compensation amount. Hence, prayed to modify the impugned order by allowing the appeal and granting interest.
12. Per contra, the learned counsel for respondent No.2/opposite party No.2 i.e., the insurance company contended that the Commissioner after considering all the aspects has awarded reasonable compensation and interest and interference of this Court is not necessary.
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13. Now the point for determination is as follows:
"Whether the findings of the Commissioner with regard to determination of interest suffer from any illegality?"
Point:
14. This Court has perused the entire evidence and material placed on record. The applicant got examined himself as A.W.1 reiterating the contents of his claim application. Though, he was cross-examined nothing contrary was elicited in the same. In order to prove the injuries sustained by him, he got examined A.W.2, who is an Orthopedic Surgeon. A.W.2 deposed that he examined the applicant and also verified the previous medical record and found fracture of clavicle left, lacerated left forearm and abrasion left elbow. He issued disability certificate by assessing the disability at 50% being partial and permanent in nature and determined the loss of earning capacity at 50%. In the cross-examination, he denied all the suggestions, which were put to him by opposite party No.2.
15. The Commissioner after considering both oral and documentary evidence placed on record by both the sides has rightly came to the conclusion that the applicant was employed 7 MGP,J CMA_288_2014 under opposite party No.1 and the accident occurred during the course and out of his employment. Based on the evidence of A.W.2 and documentary evidence placed on record by the applicant, the Commissioner rightly assessed the loss of earning capacity at 50%. Further, as no evidence was adduced by opposite party No.2, the Commissioner held that both the opposite parties are jointly and severally liable to pay compensation to the applicant.
16. Coming to the quantum of compensation, the Commissioner based on the documentary evidence on record has rightly determined the age of the applicant as 30 years. Further, though, the applicant claimed that he was being paid an amount of Rs.3,600/- per month towards wages and Rs.40/- per day towards batha, as the applicant has not adduced any cogent and convincing evidence, the Commissioner has rightly taken minimum wages prevailing as on the date of accident for computing the compensation. Hence, this Court is of the considered opinion that the Commissioner has awarded just and reasonable compensation. Therefore, interference of this Court into the said aspect is unwarranted.
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17. Insofar as rate of interest is concerned, it is apt to refer to the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Shobha v. The Chairman, Vithalrao Shinde Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd 1, wherein it is held as follows:
"6. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, the present appeal succeeds. The impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court insofar as awarding the interest @ 12% p.a. after the period of expiry of one month from 25.01.2017, is hereby quashed and set aside and it is observed and held that the appellants herein-original claimants shall be entitled to the interest @ 12% p.a. on the amount of compensation as awarded by the Commissioner from the date of the incident i.e., 29.11.2009.
Present appeal is allowed accordingly. However, in the facts and circumstances of the case, there shall be no order as to costs."
18. In view of the principle laid down in the above said case, it is evident that the applicant is entitled for interest at 12% per annum on the compensation amount from the date of accident. Hence, this Court is inclined to award interest at 12% per annum on the compensation amount granted by the Commissioner from the date of accident.
19. In the result, the Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is partly allowed by modifying the impugned order passed by the Commissioner to the extent of granting interest at 12% per annum from the date of 1 2022 LiveLaw (SC)271-Civil Appeal No 1860 of 2022, decided on 11th March, 2022. 9
MGP,J CMA_288_2014 accident. In all other aspects, the order of the Commissioner stands confirmed. There shall be no order as to costs. Miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand closed.
______________________________ JUSTICE M.G.PRIYADARSINI Date: 20.02.2024 GVR