Punjab-Haryana High Court
Chhutua And Ors vs Jaidev Giri And Ors on 15 March, 2024
Author: Alka Sarin
Bench: Alka Sarin
FAO No.1104 of 2009 1 2024:PHHC:037924
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
229 FAO No.1104 of 2009 (O&M)
Date of Decision : 15.03.2024
Chhutua and Others ....Appellants
VERSUS
Jaidev Giri and Others ....Respondents
CORAM : HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ALKA SARIN
Present : Mr. Digvijay, Advocate for
Mr. Ashish Gupta, Advocate for the appellants.
Mr. Harjinder Singh, Advocate for
Mr. Sandeep Suri, Advocate
for respondent No.3-Insurance Company.
ALKA SARIN, J. (Oral)
1. The present appeal has been preferred by the claimant-
appellants aggrieved by the quantum of compensation awarded by the Motor
Accident Claims Tribunal, Gurugram (hereinafter referred to as the
'Tribunal') vide award dated 16.10.2008.
2. Since the facts, as recorded in the impugned award passed by
the Tribunal, are not in dispute, the same are not being reproduced herein for
the sake of brevity.
3. The Tribunal awarded the following compensation :
Sr.No. Heads Compensation Awarded
1 Monthly income Rs.3,000/-
2 Annual income [Rs.3,000 x 12] = Rs.36,000/-
3 Amount after applying [Rs.36,000 - 12,000] = Rs.24,000/-
deduction 1/3rd
4 Multiplier of 13 [Rs.24,000 x 13] = Rs.3,12,000/-
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FAO No.1104 of 2009 2 2024:PHHC:037924
5 Loss of love and affection Rs.20,000/-
6 Funeral expenses Rs.20,000/-
Total Compensation Rs.3,52,000/-
Interest 7.5% per annum
4. Learned counsel for the claimant-appellants would contend that
there is no dispute regarding the income of the deceased. The Tribunal has
assessed the income of the deceased as Rs.3,000/- per month. Though, a
deduction of 1/3rd and a multiplier of 13 has correctly been applied,
however, no addition has been made towards loss of future prospects which
ought to have been 25% keeping in view the age of the deceased, who was
50 years of age, and that the amount awarded under the conventional heads
as well as under the head 'loss of consortium' is also not as per the law laid
down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. In support of his contentions the
learned counsel for the appellants has relied upon the judgments of the
Hon'ble Supreme Court in the cases of National Insurance Company Ltd.
vs. Pranay Sethi & Ors. [(2017) 16 SCC 680], Magma General
Insurance Company Limited vs. Nanu Ram alias Chuhru Ram & Ors.
[(2018) 18 SCC 130] and N. Jayasree & Ors. vs. Cholamandalam M.S
General Insurance Company Ltd. [2021(4) RCR (Civil) 642].
5. Per contra, the learned counsel for respondent No.3 has
vehemently argued that sufficient amount has already been awarded as
compensation in the present case and that there is no scope of any
enhancement.
6. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties.
7. In the present case the Tribunal has though rightly assessed the
income of the deceased as Rs.3,000/- per month and also correctly applied a
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FAO No.1104 of 2009 3 2024:PHHC:037924
deduction of 1/3rd and a multiplier of 13, however, no addition has been
made towards loss of future prospects. The deceased in the present case was
50 years of age and was working as a labourer and hence, as per the law laid
down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Pranay Sethi (supra),
25% addition is made towards loss of future prospects. Further, the amount
awarded under the conventional heads and under the head 'loss of
consortium' is not as per the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court
in the cases of Pranay Sethi (supra), Magma General Insurance
Company Limited (supra) and N. Jayasree (supra) and hence the claimant-
appellants would be entitled to Rs.18,000/- (Rs.15,000+20% increase)
towards loss of estate and Rs.18,000/- (Rs.15,000+20% increase) towards
funeral expenses and the claimant-appellants (wife and children of the
deceased) would also be entitled to Rs.48,000/- each (Rs.40,000+20%
increase) towards loss of consortium.
8. Accordingly, the reworked compensation is as under :
Sr. No. Heads Compensation Awarded
1 Monthly Income Rs.3,000/-
2 Annual Income [Rs.3,000 x 12] = Rs.36,000/-
3 Deduction 1/3rd [Rs.36,000 - 12,000] = Rs.24,000/-
4 Future Prospects - 25% [Rs.24,000 + 6,000] = Rs.30,000/-
5 Multiplier - 13 [Rs.30,000 x 13] = Rs.3,90,000/-
6 Loss of estate Rs.18,000/-
7 Funeral expenses Rs.18,000/-
8 Loss of consortium
(i) Parental [Rs.48,000x2] = Rs.96,000/-
(ii) Spousal Rs.48,000/-
Total Rs.1,44,000/-
Total Rs.5,70,000/-
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FAO No.1104 of 2009 4 2024:PHHC:037924
9. The amount in excess of and over and above the amount
awarded by the Tribunal shall also attract interest @ 7.5% per annum from
the date of filing of the claim petition till realization of the entire amount.
The amount shall be apportioned between the claimant-appellants as directed
by the Tribunal.
10. In view of the above discussion, the present appeal is allowed
and the award passed by the Tribunal is modified accordingly. Pending
applications, if any, also stand disposed off.
( ALKA SARIN )
15.03.2024 JUDGE
jk
NOTE: Whether speaking/non-speaking: Speaking
Whether reportable: YES/NO
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