Madras High Court
The Managing Director vs Vijayalakshmi on 4 January, 2021
C.M.A.No.1952 of 2020
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 04.01.2021
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE V.M.VELUMANI
C.M.A. No.1952 of 2020
and C.M.P. No.14443 of 2020
The Managing Director,
M/s.Tamilnadu State Transport
Corporation (Salem) Limited,
12-Ramakrishna Road,
Hasthampatty,
Salem. .. Appellant
Vs.
1.Vijayalakshmi
2.Minor Akash
3.Minor Lakeeshwaran
(Minors rep. by their next friend/mother,
1st respondent viz., Vijayalakshmi) .. Respondents
Prayer: This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is filed under Section 173 of Motor
Vehicles Act, 1988, against the judgment and decree dated 12.03.2020, made
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C.M.A.No.1952 of 2020
in M.C.O.P. No.517 of 2019, on the file of the Special District Court, (Motor
Accident Claims Tribunal), Krishnagiri.
For Appellant
: Mr. D. Gopal
for M/s. D. Raghu
JUDGMENT
The matter is heard through "Video Conferencing".
This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal has been filed by the appellant-
Transport Corporation against the judgment and decree dated 12.03.2020,
made in M.C.O.P. No.517 of 2019, on the file of the Special District Court,
(Motor Accident Claims Tribunal), Krishnagiri.
2.The appellant is the respondent in M.C.O.P. No.517 of 2019, on the
file of the Special District Court, (Motor Accident Claims Tribunal),
Krishnagiri. The respondents/claimants filed the said claim petition, claiming
a sum of Rs.35,00,000/- as compensation for the death of one Krishnan, who
died in the accident that took place on 01.12.2017.
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C.M.A.No.1952 of 2020
3.According to the respondents, on the date of accident, when the
deceased was riding his Two wheeler bearing Registration No.TN-70-H-9545
in Hosur to Denkanikottai Road, near Ramanaikan Eri Munieswaran Temple,
the driver of the Bus bearing Registration No.TN-29-N-1877 belonging to the
appellant-Transport Corporation drove the same in a rash and negligent
manner and dashed on the Two wheeler driven by the deceased in the
opposite direction and caused the accident. The accident occurred due to
negligent driving by driver of the Bus. In the accident, the deceased
succumbed to fatal injuries. Hence, the respondents filed claim petition
claiming compensation against the appellant as owner of the Bus involved in
the accident.
4.The appellant-Transport Corporation, filed counter statement and
denied all the averments made by the respondents in the claim petition.
According to the appellant, on the date of accident, it was raining and the
driver of the said Bus bearing Registration No.TN-29-N-1877 drove the same
very slowly, carefully, cautiously, observing all the rules of the road with
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C.M.A.No.1952 of 2020
sounding horn. When the Bus was near Ramanaikan Eri, Munieswaran
Temple, the deceased who was riding his Two wheeler in a rash and negligent
manner at uncontrollable speed, speaking on mobile phone, lost control and
came from opposite side of the road, i.e., from right side of the road and
dashed against the front side of the Bus and caused the accident. The accident
occurred only due to rash and negligent riding by the deceased. The
respondents have to prove the age, avocation and income of the deceased to
claim compensation. In any event, the total compensation claimed by the
respondents is excessive and prayed for dismissal of the claim petition.
5.Before the Tribunal, the 1st respondent examined herself as P.W.1,
eye witness viz., Srinivasan was examined as P.W.2 and 11 documents were
marked as Exs.P1 to P11. The appellant examined the driver of the Bus
involved in the accident as R.W.1, Junior Assistant from RTO Office, Hosur
as R.W.2 and marked 2 documents as Exs.R1 & R2.
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C.M.A.No.1952 of 2020
6.The Tribunal considering the pleadings, oral and documentary
evidence, held that accident occurred due to negligence of both the driver of
the Bus belonging to the appellant-Transport Corporation as well as
deceased/rider of the Two wheeler and fixed contributory negligence as 85:15
and awarded a sum of Rs.16,07,000/- as compensation to the respondents.
The Tribunal directed the appellant to pay a sum of Rs.13,65,950/-, being
85% of the award amount as compensation to the respondents.
7.Against the said award dated 12.03.2020, made in M.C.O.P. No.517
of 2019, the appellant – Transport Corporation has come out with the present
appeal.
8.The learned counsel appearing for the appellant-Transport
Corporation contended that the accident occurred only due to rash and
negligent riding by the deceased who drove the Two wheeler in a rash and
negligent manner without sounding horn, speaking on mobile phone, came
from opposite side of the road, i.e., from right side of the road and dashed on
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C.M.A.No.1952 of 2020
the front side of the Bus and caused the accident. The appellant examined
driver of the Bus and proved the same. The Tribunal erroneously fixed
negligence on the driver of the Bus and directed the appellant to pay
compensation to the respondents. The respondents failed to prove the
avocation and income of the deceased. In the absence of any materials, the
Tribunal erroneously fixed Rs.9,000/- per month as notional income of the
deceased. The total compensation awarded by the Tribunal is excessive and
prayed for setting aside the award of the Tribunal.
9.Heard learned counsel appearing for the appellant-Transport
Corporation and perused the materials available on record.
10.From the materials on record, it is seen that it is the contention of
the respondents that while the deceased was riding the Two wheeler, the
driver of the Bus belonging to the appellant Transport Corporation drove the
same in a rash and negligent manner, dashed against the Two wheeler in
which the deceased was riding and caused the accident. In the accident, the
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C.M.A.No.1952 of 2020
deceased sustained fatal injuries and died. To substantiate their contention,
the 1st respondent examined herself as P.W.1 and one Srinivasan was
examined as P.W.2 and marked FIR as Ex.P1 which was registered against
the driver of the Bus. On the other hand, it is the contention of the appellant
that deceased only caused accident. He was riding his Two wheeler in a rash
and negligent manner without sounding horn, speaking over mobile phone
and came to wrong side and dashed on the front side of the Bus. In support of
their case, the appellant examined driver of the Bus as R.W.1 and examined
Junior Assistant from R.T.O., Hosur as R.W.2, to show that deceased did not
possess driving license at the time of accident. The Tribunal taking into
consideration the FIR registered against R.W.1, driver of the Bus, the fact that
the driver of the Bus or appellant has not given any complaint against the
deceased or filed any objection to the FIR which was registered against the
driver, accepted the evidence of P.W.2 and rejected the evidence of R.W.1.
The Tribunal also took note of the fact that the appellant has not examined
Conductor or any passenger and held that accident occurred only due to rash
and negligent driving by driver of the Bus. At the same time, the Tribunal
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C.M.A.No.1952 of 2020
considered the evidence of P.W.1 who admitted that her deceased husband did
not wear helmet, did not possess driving license and vehicular documents and
held that deceased also contributed to the accident and directed the appellant
to pay only 85% of the amounts awarded. There is no error in the finding of
the Tribunal, warranting interference by this Court.
11.As far as the quantum of compensation is concerned, the
respondents claimed that deceased was aged 39 years, working as a Carpenter
and was earning a sum of Rs.25,000/- per month. They failed to prove the
same. In the absence of any materials, the Tribunal fixed a sum of Rs.9,000/-
per month as notional income of the deceased, granted 40% enhancement
towards future prospects, applied multiplier '15', deducted 1/3rd towards
personal expenses of the deceased and awarded compensation towards loss of
dependency. The accident is of the year 2017. The notional income of
Rs.9,000/- per month fixed by the Tribunal is not excessive. The Tribunal
granted a sum of Rs.20,000/- towards loss of estate, Rs.30,000/- each towards
loss of consortium and loss of love and affection. In view of the lesser
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C.M.A.No.1952 of 2020
amount granted by the Tribunal towards loss of love and affection and loss of
consortium, the excess amount granted by the Tribunal towards loss of estate
is not interfered with.
12.In the result, this Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is dismissed and the
amount awarded by the Tribunal at Rs.16,07,000/- together with interest at
the rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of petition till the date of deposit is
confirmed. The appellant-Transport Corporation is directed to deposit
Rs.13,65,950/- being 85% of the award amount along with interest and costs,
less the amount already deposited, within a period of twelve weeks from the
date of receipt of a copy of this judgment, to the credit of M.C.O.P. No.517 of
2019. On such deposit, the 1st respondent is permitted to withdraw her share
of the award amount with proportionate interest and costs, as per the ratio of
apportionment fixed by the Tribunal, after adjusting the amount, if any,
already withdrawn, by filing necessary applications before the Tribunal. The
share of the minor respondents 2 and 3 are directed to be deposited in any one
of the Nationalized Bank, till the minors attain majority. The 1st respondent,
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C.M.A.No.1952 of 2020
mother of the minor respondents 2 and 3 is permitted to withdraw the accrued
interest, once in three months for the welfare of the minor respondents 2 and
3. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. No costs.
04.01.2021
Index : Yes/No
gsa
To
1.The Special District Judge,
(Motor Accident Claims Tribunal),
Krishnagiri.
2.The Section Officer,
V.R Section,
High Court, Madras.
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C.M.A.No.1952 of 2020
V.M.VELUMANI, J.,
gsa
C.M.A. No.1952 of 2020
04.01.2021
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