Citation : 2021 Latest Caselaw 22222 Ker
Judgement Date : 5 November, 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAVI
FRIDAY, THE 5TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2021 / 14TH KARTHIKA, 1943
MACA NO. 1475 OF 2016
AGAINST THE AWARD IN MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL,
KASARGOD
APPELLANTS/PETITIONERS:
1 NANGARATH ABDUL RAHIMAN
AGED 55 YEARS, S/O. ABDULKHADER HAJI,
RESIDING AT N.A.HOUSE, OLAVARE,
SOUTH TRIKARIPUR VILLAGE,
P.O.UDUMBAMTHALA.
2 SHAHARBAN K.
AGED 44 YEARS, W/O. ABDUL RAHIMAN,
RESIDING AT N.A.HOUSE, OLAVARE,
SOUTH TRIKARIPUR VILLAGE,
P.O.UDUMBAMTHALA.
BY ADVS.
SRI.M.M.ANTO
SRI.GEORGE MATHEWS
RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:
1 SUDHEESH M.
S/O. JANARDHANAN K., AGED 43 YEARS,
RESIDING AT KANKOKARAN HOUSE,
NEAR THAYINERI MUCHILOTT,
ANNUR P.O., PAYYANNUR-670307.
2 DINOOP M.P.
S/O. BHASKARAN, "BHASURAM", ANCHAMPEEDIKA,
P.O.MOTTAMMAL, KANNUR DISTRICT-670331.
3 THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED
KANNUR-670 001.
R3 BY ADV SRI.P.G.GANAPPAN
THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING BEEN
FINALLY HEARD ON 04.10.2021, THE COURT ON 05.11.2021
DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
M.A.C.A. No. 2432 of 2013
2
T.R. RAVI, J.
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M.A.C.A. No. 1475 of 2016
--------------------------------------------
Dated this the 5th day of November, 2021
JUDGMENT
Appellants are the parents of late Mohammed Ramees who
died in a motor accident. The appellants preferred a claim before
the Tribunal claiming compensation. The deceased was aged 18
years and it was claimed that he was working as a Painter and
earning about ₹5,000/- per month at the time of the accident.
The Tribunal granted compensation of ₹5,75,000/-. Aggrieved by
the award, the appellants have preferred this appeal seeking
enhancement of the compensation.
2. Heard learned counsel for the appellants and
Sri P.G.Ganappan, learned counsel for the 3rd respondent insurer.
3. The learned counsel for the appellants submitted that
the Tribunal went wrong in adopting a notional income of ₹4,000/-
for computing the compensation under the head loss of
dependency. It is submitted that the accident happened in 2012
and there was no reason to reduce the amount of ₹5,000/-
claimed as monthly income, having regard to the dictum laid down
in Ramachandrappa v. Manager, Royal Sundaram Alliance M.A.C.A. No. 2432 of 2013
Insurance Co.Ltd., reported in [AIR 2011 SC 2951]. It is
further submitted that the Tribunal did not make any addition
towards future prospects. The learned counsel for the insurer
fairly submitted that ₹5,000/- can be adopted as the monthly
income and 40% has to be added towards future prospects, going
by the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in several
decisions. However, it is submitted that the compensation
awarded under certain other heads are not correct. It is pointed
out that a sum of ₹25,000/- has been granted towards funeral
expenses and the appellants would be entitled to only ₹15,000/-
under the said head. No amount has been awarded towards loss
of estate and the appellants will be entitled to ₹15,000/- under
that head. So also the Tribunal has awarded a sum of ₹1 lakh
towards loss of love and affection. It is submitted that the
appellants together will be entitled to a sum of ₹80,000/- towards
loss of consortium and hence ₹20,000/- has been awarded in
excess. Consolidating the amounts under the above heads, a sum
of ₹15,000/- has to be deducted from the compensation. As
regards the compensation for loss of dependency on the basis of
the monthly income of ₹5,000/- along with 40% added towards
future prospects, the appellants will be entitled to a sum of M.A.C.A. No. 2432 of 2013
₹7,56,000/- under the above head (5000x140%x12x18x1/2).
After deducting the amount of ₹4,32,000/- granted by the
Tribunal, the appellants will be entitled to a sum of ₹3,24,000/-
under the head loss of dependency.
4. In the result, the appeal is allowed and the appellants
are awarded an enhanced compensation of ₹3,09,000/-
(Rupees Three Lakhs Nine Thousand only) with interest at the
rate of 9% per annum from the date of filing of the claim petition
(11.10.2013) till the date of realisation, with proportionate costs.
The 3rd respondent insurer shall deposit the additional
compensation granted in this appeal along with the interest and
proportionate costs, before the Tribunal within two months from
the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment, after
deducting any amount to which the appellants are liable towards
balance court fee and legal benefit fund. The disbursement of the
compensation to the appellants shall be in accordance with law.
Sd/-
T.R. RAVI JUDGE
dsn
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