Citation : 2022 Latest Caselaw 2015 Ker
Judgement Date : 19 February, 2022
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.VINOD CHANDRAN
SATURDAY, THE 19TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2022 / 30TH MAGHA, 1943
MACA NO. 2312 OF 2017
AGAINST THE AWARD DATED 20.01.2017 IN OPMV 181/2015 OF MOTOR
ACCIDENT CLAIMS TRIBUNAL ,KASARAGOD
APPELLANTS/PETITIONERS:
1 KHAIRUNNISA
AGED 36 YEARS, W/O. MOHAMMED K., R/AT
MOODAMBAIL,ARICHAR HOUSE, KADAMBAR, MANJESHWAR TALUK,
KASARGOD DISTRICT.
2 MUFEED MOHAMMED. K
AGED 12 YEARS, S/O. MOHAMMED, DOB : 02.07.2004,R/AT
MOODAMBAIL, ARICHAR HOUSE, KADAMBAR, MANJESHWAR
TALUK, KASARGOD DISTRICT.
3 KHADEEJATH MUNEERA
AGED 10 YEARS, D/O. MOHAMMED, DOB : 05.10.2007,R/AT
MOODAMBAIL, ARICHAR HOUSE, KADAMBAR, MANJESHWAR
TALUK, KASARGOD DISTRICT.
4 MUBASHIR
AGED 7 YEARS, S/O. MOHAMMED, DOB : 06.09.2009,R/AT
MOODAMBAIL, ARICHAR HOUSE, KADAMBAR, MANJESHWAR
TALUK, KASARGOD DISTRICT. (PETITIONER NOS. 2 TO 4 ARE
MINORS REPRESENTED BY GUARDIAN MOTHER, 1ST
PETITIONER)
BY ADVS.
SRI.K.P.HARISH
SRI.JACKSON JOHNY
RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:
1 PRAKASH
S/O. JYOTIRAM DAS,VAMACHUVADY, KARADE TALUK, SATHARA
DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA, PIN - 421 304.
2 DEVESHAN DHARMPAL BELMAN
MHATRE CHAWL, VALPADA, BHIWANDI, THANE
DISTRICT,MAHARASHTRA - 421 302.
3 THE BRANCH MANAGER
THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE COMPANY LTD.,GOKUL
ENTERPRISES, ANABAGILU, M.G. ROAD, KASARAGOD - 671
121.
BY ADV SRI.P.JACOB MATHEW
THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 19.02.2022, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED
THE FOLLOWING:
M.A.C.A.No.2312 of 2017
- 2 -
K.VINOD CHANDRAN, J
------------------------------------------------
M.A.C.A.No.2312 of 2017
--------------------------------------------------
Dated this the 19th day of February, 2022
JUDGMENT
The appellants are the legal heirs of the husband of the first
appellant, who died in a motor accident. The appeal is for
enhancement of compensation. The husband of the first appellant
was 40 years old and was said to be running a fancy shop. The
deceased was survived by the four claimants, his wife and three
children. The Tribunal adopted Rs.6,000/- as the notional income.
2. Despite the claimants asserting that the deceased was
running a fancy shop, there was no evidence to prove that. There was
no evidence regarding the income also. Even a coolie, as has been
decided in Ramachandrappa v. Manager, Royal Sundaram
Alliance Insurance Company Ltd. : (2011) 13 SCC 236 would be
fixed with a notional income of Rs.9,000/- per annum in the year
2014. In such circumstances, the notional income is adopted at
Rs.9,500/-. 25% enhancement is granted on future prospects and ¼ th
is reduced for personal expenses.
M.A.C.A.No.2312 of 2017
- 3 -
3. Considering the fact that enhancement is granted, one has
look at the compensation granted in excess of what is laid down by
precedents. For loss of consortium, each of the claimants are entitled
to Rs.40,000/-. But when that amount is granted, there is no question
of further compensation for loss of love and care. The Tribunal has
granted Rs.2,50,000/- for loss of consortium and loss of love and
care, which has to be reduced by Rs.90,000/-. Since no amount has
been granted for transport to hospital and damage to clothing and
articles, this Court is of the opinion that a nominal amount of
Rs.3,000/- and Rs.1,000/- respectively can be granted under these
heads. The total compensation granted under loss of estate and
funeral expenses is correct. A further amount of Rs.10,000/- for loss
of love and care also has to be deleted. Enhancement will be granted
in accordance with the following tabulation:
Head of Claim Amount awarded Total amount after Sl. by the Tribunal enhancement in appeal No. Rs Rs 1 Transport to Hospital - 3000
2 Damage to clothing and - 1000 articles 3 Funeral expenses 25000 25000 4 Loss of estate 5000 5000 5 Loss of love and 10000 -
affection 6 Compensation for loss 720000 (9500x125%x12x15x3/4) of dependency 1603125 7 Pain and suffering - -
M.A.C.A.No.2312 of 2017
- 4 -
8 Loss of love and care
150000 } (40000 x 4) 1,60,000
9 Loss of consortium 100000
Total 10,10,000 17,97,125
Amount enhanced - Rs.17,97,125 - Rs.10,10,000 = Rs.7,87,125/-
4. The Insurance Company shall pay interest for the amounts
awarded by the Tribunal at the rate directed in the impugned award
and for the enhanced amounts at the rate of 5% from the date of
petition. If any amounts have already been paid, the same shall be
granted set off. The claimant(s) shall produce the details of the Bank
account before the Insurance Company/Tribunal within one month
from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment and
amount shall be transferred to the Bank account directly through
NEFT/RTGS mode within a period of one month thereafter. If the Bank
account is not given within the time stipulated, it is made clear that no
interest shall run on the enhanced amount after the period stipulated
by this Court. However, if the Insurance Company fails to deposit the
amount as directed, interest on the enhanced amount shall also run at
the rate ordered by the Tribunal from the date of petition.
The appeal is allowed to the above extent.
Sd/-K.VINOD CHANDRAN JUDGE
lsn
Publish Your Article
Campus Ambassador
Media Partner
Campus Buzz
LatestLaws.com presents: Lexidem Offline Internship Program, 2026
LatestLaws.com presents 'Lexidem Online Internship, 2026', Apply Now!