Delhi High Court
Nafe Singh Khatri & Ors. vs Sukhdev Singh & Anr. on 13 July, 2009
Author: J.R. Midha
36
*IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ FAO.No.151/2003
Date of Decision: 13th July, 2009
%
NAFE SINGH KHATRI & ORS. ..... Appellants
Through : Mr. A.S. Dateer, Adv.
versus
SUKHDEV SINGH & ANR. ..... Respondents
Through : Ms. Ritu Bhardwaj, Adv.
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 appellants have challenged the award of the
learned Tribunal whereby compensation of Rs.1,60,704/- has
been awarded to the appellants. The appellants seek
enhancement of the award amount.
2. The accident dated 18th April, 1997 resulted in the
death of Sanjay Khatri aged 22 years. The deceased was
survived by his parents and a brother who filed the claim
petition before the learned Tribunal.
3. In the claim petition, it was stated that the deceased
was doing part time job with Prince Ceramic Décor and was
earning Rs.3,500/- per month. The deceased was also
simultaneously studying and was also serving in the factory
of his brother, Gulab Singh. However, since there was
insufficient evidence of income, the learned Tribunal took the
minimum wages of Rs.2,232/- per month and considering the
increase on account of inflation and price index, the loss of
income was taken to be Rs.3,348/- per month. The loss of
dependency of the parents was taken to be 1/3rd and the
multiplier of 12 was applied to compute the loss of
dependency at Rs.1,60,704/-. No amount has been awarded
for loss of love and affection, loss of estate and funeral
expenses.
4. The appellants have raised the following grounds at the
hearing of this appeal:-
(i) The dependency of the appellant be taken to be
1/2 instead of 1/3rd of the income of the deceased.
(ii) The multiplier be enhanced from 12 to 13.
(iii) Compensation be awarded for loss of love and
affection, loss of estate and funeral expenses.
5. With respect to the personal expenses of the deceased,
it is well settled by the recent judgment of the Hon'ble
Supreme Court in the case of Sarla Verma Vs. Delhi
Transport Corporation, 2009 (6) Scale 129 that the
personal expenses of unmarried person has to be taken to be
50%. Accordingly, the dependency of the appellants is taken
to be Rs.1,674/- (50% of Rs.3,348/-).
6. The learned Tribunal has applied the multiplier of 12
considering the age of the parents to be 46 and 48 years
respectively. The appropriate multiplier according to the
recent judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of
Sarla Verma (supra) is 13. The multiplier is accordingly
enhanced from 12 to 13.
7. The learned Tribunal has not awarded any
compensation for loss of love and affection, loss of estate
and funeral expenses. Rs.10,000/- is awarded to each of the
two appellants towards the loss of love and affection.
Rs.10,000/- is awarded towards loss of estate and Rs.5,000/-
is awarded towards funeral expenses. The appellants are
entitled to total compensation of Rs.2,96,144/- (Rs.1,674 X
12 X 13 + Rs.10,000 + Rs.10,000 + Rs.10,000 + Rs.5,000).
8. The appeal is allowed and the award amount is
enhanced from Rs.1,60,704/- to Rs.2,96,144/- along with
interest at the rate of 9% per annum from the date of filing of
this petition till payment.
9. The enhanced amount along with up to date interest be
deposited by respondent No.2 with the Registrar General of
this Court within 30 days.
10. The appellants shall have equal share in the enhanced
award amount.
11. The order with respect to the disbursement of the
award amount shall be passed on 19th August, 2009.
12. Copy of this order be given 'Dasti' to learned counsel
for the parties under signatures of Court Master.
J.R. MIDHA, J
JULY 13, 2009
mk
