Ankit Sharma vs Ratan Singh And Others ...
2023 Latest Caselaw 5408 Raj/2

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      HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN
                  BENCH AT JAIPUR

          S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 7869/2011

 1.     Ankit Sharma S/o Shri Trilok Chand Sharma, B/c
         Vaishnav Guru, R/o 2/165, Gadhi Thoriyan, Housing
         Board, Beawar Raj.
                                                                   ----Appellant
                                    Versus
1.       Ratan Singh S/o Harnath Singh, R/o Majitha Govt.
         Hospital,     Near      Khampati,          Majitha,       P.s.   Majitha
         Amritsar- Punjab. Driver Of The Trailer No. Gj-5At-
         1306
2.       Exult Logistic Pvt. Ltd., H. X. 10 Nand Niketan
         Shopping Complex Essar Township, Hajira, Surat Hajira
         Gujrat. Owner Of The Trailer No. Gj-5At-1306
3.       The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., Khai Land Market,
         Ajmer Raj. Having Its Regional Office At Nehru Place,
         Tonk Road, Jaipur. Insurer Of The Trailer No. Gj-5At-
         1306
                                                               ----Respondents

For Appellant(s) : Mr. Jai Prakash Gupta, Adv. For Respondent(s) : Mrs. Rajni Vyas, Adv.

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE BHUWAN GOYAL

Judgment 29/09/2023

1. vihykFkhZ }kjk gLrxr vihy vUrxZr /kkjk 173 eksVj;ku nq?kZVuk vf/kfu;e ds rgr eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk nkok vf/kdj.k ,oa vij ftyk ,oa ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k] QkLV Vªsd la[;k&1 C;koj] vtesj] ¼ftls vkxs ^^vf/kdj.k^^ uke ls lacksf/kr fd;k tk,xk½ }kjk Dyse ;kfpdk la[;k&65@2011 ¼81@2010½] vafdr 'kekZ cuke jruflag oxSjkg esa fnukad 30-08-2011 dks ikfjr ipkaV] ftlds ek/;e ls vihykFkhZ@vkosnd ds i{k esa 4]51]426@&:i, dk ipkaV ikfjr fd;k x;k gS] ls O;fFkr gksdj mDr {kfriwfrZ jkf'k esa o`f) djus gsrq izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

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2. izdj.k ds rF; la{ksi esa bl izdkj gS fd vihykFkhZ@vkosnd vafdr 'kekZ dh vksj ls ,d Dyse ;kfpdk varxZr /kkjk 140@166 eksVj okgu vf/kfu;e ds vUrxZr Lo;a ds] nq?kZVuk esa vkgr gksus ds ifj.kkeLo:i izfrdj jkf'k 60]05]000@&:i, izkIr djus gsrq izLrqr dh xbZ Fkh] ftl ij fo}ku vf/kdj.k us vkykSP; fu.kZ; fnukad 30-08-2011 }kjk vihykFkhZ dh Dyse ;kfpdk dks vkaf'kd :Ik ls Lohdkj djrs gq, mlds i{k esa 4]51]426@&:i, dk iapkV ikfjr fd;k x;k] ftlls O;fFkr gksdj izLrqr vihy mDr iapkV jkf'k esa c<+ksrjh fd, tkus gsrq izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

3. vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls vihy esa eq[;r% ;g vk{ksi fy;k x;k gS fd fo}ku vf/kdj.k us vihykFkhZ ds vk;q oxZ ds vuqlkj lgh xq.kd ugha yxk;k gS ,oa mls Hkfo"; es a gksus okyh vk; dh {kfr en es a dksbZ jkf'k ugha fnyokbZ xbZ gS rFkk 'kkjhfjd ,oa ekufld ihM+k dh en esa tks jkf'k fnyokbZ xbZ gS] og vR;kf/kd de gS] vr% 17 dsa xq.kd ds LFkku ij 18 dk xq.kd iz;ksx djrs gq,] mls Hkfo"; esa gksus okyh vk; dh gkfu en esa 40 izfr'kr jkf'k fnyokbZ tkos rFkk 'kkjhfjd o ekufld ihM+k en esa leqfpr jkf'k iznku ugha djus ls mDr en esa Hkh leqfpr jkf'k iznku dh tkosA

4. fo}ku vf/koDrk izR;FkhZ chek daiuh us cgl ds nkSjku 17 ds LFkku ij 18 ds xq.kd iz;ksx es a fy, tkus ,oa Hkfo"; es a vk; dh {kfr ds en esa vihykFkhZ dks 40 izfr'kr {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnykus ds laca/k esa mUgs a dksbZ vkifRr uk gksuk dFku fd;k] fdUrq 'kkjhfjd ,oa ekufld ihM+k dh en esa fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk fnykbZ xbZ jkf'k leqfpr ,oa i;kZIr gksus ls mDr lanHkZ esa vihykFkhZ dh izkFkZUkk dks vLohdkj fd, tkus dk fuosnu fd;k x;kA

5. geus mHk;Ik{kksa dks lquk rFkk vihyh; i=koyh o fo}ku vf/kdj.k ds vfHkys[k dk xgurkiwoZd voyksdu fd;kA

6. ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us eksVj nq?kZVuk izdj.kksa esa {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnyokbZ tkus ds laca/k esa vius U;kf;d n`"Vkar us'kuy ba';ksjsUl daiuh fyfeVsM cuke iz.k; lsBh o vU; fjiksVZsM bu ¼2017½ 16 ,l-lh-lh- 680 ds iSjk la[;k&46] 57] 59] 60 esa ;g izfrikfnr fd;k gS fd%& "46. At this stage, we must immediately say that insofar as the aforesaid multiplicand/multiplier is concerned, it has to be accepted on the basis of income established by the legal representatives of

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the deceased. Future prospects are to be added to the sum on the percentage basis and "income" means actual income less than the tax paid. The multiplier has already been fixed in Sarla Verma which has been approved in Reshma Kumari with which we concur."

xxx--------xxx----------xxx "57. Section 168 of the Act deals with the concept of "just compensation" and the same has to be determined on the foundation of fairness, reasonableness and equitability on acceptable legal standard because such determination can never be in arithmetical exactitude. It can never be perfect. The aim is to achieve an acceptable degree of proximity to arithmetical precision on the basis of materials brought on record in an individual case. The conception of "just compensation" has to be viewed through the prism of fairness, reasonableness and non- violation of the principle of equitability. In a case of death, the legal heirs of the claimants cannot expect a windfall.

Simultaneously, the compensation granted cannot be an apology for compensation. It cannot be a pittance. Though the discretion vested in the tribunal is quite wide, yet it is obligatory on the part of the tribunal to be guided by the expression, that is, "just compensation". The determination has to be on the foundation of evidence brought on record as regards the age and income of the deceased and thereafter the apposite multiplier to be applied. The formula relating to multiplier has been clearly stated in Sarla Verma (supra) and it has been approved in Reshma Kumari (supra). The age and income, as stated earlier, have to be established by adducing evidence. The tribunal and the Courts have to bear in mind that the basic principle lies in pragmatic computation which is in proximity to reality. It is a well accepted norm that money cannot substitute a life lost but an effort

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has to be made for grant of just compensation having uniformity of approach. There has to be a balance between the two extremes, that is, a windfall and the pittance, a bonanza and the modicum. In such an adjudication, the duty of the tribunal and the Courts is difficult and hence, an endeavour has been made by this Court for standardization which in its ambit includes addition of future prospects on the proven income at present. As far as future prospects are concerned, there has been standardization keeping in view the principle of certainty, stability and consistency. We approve the principle of "standardization" so that a specific and certain multiplicand is determined for applying the multiplier on the basis of age."

xxx--------xxx----------xxx "59. Having bestowed our anxious consideration, we are disposed to think when we accept the principle of standardization, there is really no rationale not to apply the said principle to the self- employed or a person who is on a fixed salary. To follow the doctrine of actual income at the time of death and not to add any amount with regard to future prospects to the income for the purpose of determination of multiplicand would be unjust. The determination of income while computing compensation has to include future prospects so that the method will come within the ambit and sweep of just compensation as postulated under Section 168 of the Act. In case of a deceased who had held a permanent job with inbuilt grant of annual increment, there is an acceptable certainty. But to state that the legal representatives of a deceased who was on a fixed salary would not be entitled to the benefit of future prospects for the purpose of computation of compensation would be inapposite. It is because the criterion of distinction between the two in that event would be certainty on the one hand and staticness on the other. One

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may perceive that the comparative measure is certainty on the one hand and uncertainty on the other but such a perception is fallacious. It is because the price rise does affect a self-employed person; and that apart there is always an incessant effort to enhance one's income for sustenance. The purchasing capacity of a salaried person on permanent job when increases because of grant of increments and pay revision or for some other change in service conditions, there is always a competing attitude in the private sector to enhance the salary to get better efficiency from the employees. Similarly, a person who is self- employed is bound to garner his resources and raise his charges/fees so that he can live with same facilities. To have the perception that he is likely to remain static and his income to remain stagnant is contrary to the fundamental concept of human attitude which always intends to live with dynamism and move and change with the time. Though it may seem appropriate that there cannot be certainty in addition of future prospects to the existing income unlike in the case of a person having a permanent job, yet the said perception does not really deserve acceptance. We are inclined to think that there can be some degree of difference as regards the percentage that is meant for or applied to in respect of the legal representatives who claim on behalf of the deceased who had a permanent job than a person who is self-employed or on a fixed salary. But not to apply the principle of standardization on the foundation of perceived lack of certainty would tantamount to remaining oblivious to the marrows of ground reality. And, therefore, degree-test is imperative. Unless the degree-test is applied and left to the parties to adduce evidence to establish, it would be unfair and inequitable. The degree-test

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has to have the inbuilt concept of percentage. Taking into consideration the cumulative factors, namely, passage of time, the changing society, escalation of price, the change in price index, the human attitude to follow a particular pattern of life, etc., an addition of 40% of the established income of the deceased towards future prospects and where the deceased was below 40 years an addition of 25% where the deceased was between the age of 40 to 50 years would be reasonable."

"60. The controversy does not end here. The question still remains whether there should be no addition where the age of the deceased is more than 50 years. Sarla Verma thinks it appropriate not to add any amount and the same has been approved in Reshma Kumari. Judicial notice can be taken of the fact that salary does not remain the same. When a person is in a permanent job, there is always an enhancement due to one reason or the other. To lay down as a thumb rule that there will be no addition after 50 years will be an unacceptable concept. We are disposed to think, there should be an addition of 15% if the deceased is between the age of 50 to 60 years and there should be no addition thereafter. Similarly, in case of self- employed or person on fixed salary, the addition should be 10% between the age of 50 to 60 years. The aforesaid yardstick has been fixed so that there can be consistency in the approach by the tribunals and the courts."

7. ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; us eksVj nq?kZVuk izdj.kksa esa {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnyokbZ tkus ds laca/k esa vius U;kf;d n`"Vkar Anant Son of Sidheswar Dukre Vs. Pratap Son of Zhampannappa Lamzane

& Anr. Reported in (2018) 9 Supreme Court Cases 450 esa ;g

izfrikfnr fd;k gS fd%& "12. In case of motor accidents leading to injuries and disablements, it is a well settled principle that a person must not only be compensated for his

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physical injury, but also for the non-pecuniary losses which he has suffered due to the injury. The claimant is entitled to be compensated for his inability to lead a full life, and enjoy those things and amenities which he would have enjoyed, but for the injuries."

"13. The purpose of compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act is to fully and adequately restore the aggrieved to the position prior to the accident. This Court in Yadava Kumar v. National Insurance Co. Ltd. explained "just compensation" in the following words:"

"15. It goes without saying that in matters of determination of compensation both the tribunal and the court are statutorily charged with a responsibility of fixing a "just compensation". It is obviously true that determination of a just compensation cannot be equated to a bonanza. At the same time the concept of "just compensation" obviously suggests application of fair and equitable principles and a reasonable approach on the part of the tribunals and courts. This reasonableness on the part of the tribunal and court must be on a large peripheral field."

8. ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk izfrikfnr fl)kUrksa ds ifjizs{; esa i=koyh dk e; vkykSP; vkns'k voyksdu fd;k x;k] gLrxr izdj.k esa vf/kdj.k }kjk vihykFkhZ dh vk; 3000@&:i, ekfld fu/kkZfjr dh xbZ gS ,o a Dyse fifV'ku es a mldh vk;q 23 o"kZ vafdr gksus] fdUrq pksV izfrosnu esa vk;q 25 o"kZ vafdr gksus ls mldh vk;q 20&25 o"kZ ds e/; gksuk vo/kkfjr fd;k x;k x;k gS] nkSjkus cgl mDr nksuks ds laca/k esa dksbZ vk{ksi chek daiuh dh vksj ls ugh a fd;k x;k gS] ,sls esa vf/kdj.k }kjk ekuh xbZ ekfld vk; o vk;q esa gLr{ksi fd;k tkuk mfpr izrhr ugha gksrk gS] fdUrq gLrxr izdj.k esa vkykSP; vkns'k ds voyksdu ls fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk vkgr dh vk;q 20&25 ds e/; ekurs gq, 17 dk xq.kd iz;ksx esa fy;k x;k gS ,oa vkgr dks Hkfo"; esa vk; dh gkfu en esa dksbZ jkf'k Hkh ugha fnyokbZ xbZ gS] fo}ku v/kfoDrk vihykFkhZ

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us ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk us'kuy ba';ksjsUl daiuh fyfeVsM cuke iz.k; lsBh o vU; fjiksVZsM bu ¼2017½ 16 ,l-lh-lh- 680 esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr dh vuqikyuk esa vkgr dh vk;q 20&25 o"kZ gksus ls 18 dk xq.kd iz;ksx esa ysrs gq, mldh ekfld vk; esa 40 izfr'kr dh c<+ksrjh dj {kfriwfrZ jkf'k fnykus dh izkFkZUkk dh xbZ gS] ftlds lanHkZ esa izR;FkhZ chek daiuh }kjk dksbZ vkifRr ugha gksuk nkSjkus cgl dFku fd;k x;k gS] gekjh fouez jk; es a Hkh pawfd vkgr dk nk;k a iSj nq?kZVuk es a vkbZ pksVks a ds ifj.kkeLo:i dkV fn;k x;k gS rFkk mls nq?kZVuk esa vU; dkQh pksVs Hkh vkbZ gS rFkk nq?kZVuk esa vkbZ pksVks ds ifj.kkeLo:i mls LFkkbZ fu;ksZX;rk Hkh gqbZ gS] ,sls esa og ml {kerk ls dk;Z ugha dj ik,xk] tSlk og nq?kZVuk esa vkbZ pksVkas ls iwoZ dk;Z djrk Fkk] ftlls mldh Hkfo"; esa vk; dh gkfu gksuk LokHkkfod gSA

9. izdj.k es a vkgr dh vk; 3]000@&:i, fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk fu/kkZfjr dh xbZ gS] ftles a 40 izfr'kr c<+ksrjh ij chek daiuh }kjk dksbZ vkifRr ugha gksuk dFku fd;k x;k gS] vr% vkgr dh vk; 3000@&:i, es a 40 izfr'kr jkf'k dh c<+ksrjh djus ds mijkUr mldh ekfld vk; 4]200@&:i, izfrekg gksrh gS] lkFk gh vkgr dk vk;q oxZ 20&25 o"kZ ds e/; gksus ls us'kuy ba';ksjsUl daiuh fyfeVsM cuke iz.k; lsBh o vU; fjiksVZsM bu ¼2017½ 16 ,l-lh-lh- 680 esa izfrikfnr fl)kUr ds vuqlkj fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk yxk;k x;k 17 dk xq.kd =qfViw.kZ gksus ls izdj.k esa 17 ds xq.kd ds LFkku ij 18 dk xq.kd yxk;k tkuk visf{kr gSA

10. gLrxr izdj.k esa vkykSP; vkns'k ds voyksdu ls vihykFkhZ dks 'kkjhfjd o ekufld ihM+k] ifjogu O;;] ikSf"Vd vkgkj] lgk;d [kpZ vkfn ij ,deq'r 25]000@&:i, jkf'k fnyokbZ xbZ gS] tks gekjh fouez jk; esa leqfpr o fof/klEer gksuk izdV ugha gksrh gS] D;ksafd i=koyh ij miyC/k lk{; ls vkgr dk nq?kZVuk es a vk;h pksVks a ds ifj.kkeLo:i mldk yEcs le; rd bZyktjr jguk ,oa mldk iSj dVuk rFkk iSj esa 80 izfr'kr fu;kZsX;rk gksuk izekf.kr gqvk gS] vr% vihykFkhZ dks vk;h pksVksa dh izÑfr] yEcs le; rd bZyktjr jgus ds rF; dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, ge vihykFkhZ dks mDr en esa 25]000@& :i;s jkf'k ds LFkku ij ,deq'r 80]000@& :i;s fnyok;k tkuk mfpr le>rs gSa] 'ks"k enksa esa fnyokbZ xbZ {kfriwfrZ jkf'k ds lanHkZ esa vk{ksi ugha fd;s tkus ls muesa gLr{ksi fd;k tkuk mfpr ugha le>rs gSaA

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11. mDrkuqlkj vihykFkhZ&vkosnd fuEu izdkj ls {kfriwfrZ jkf'k izkIr djus dk vf/kdkjh gS%& 'kh"kZ@en bl fu.kZ; ds rgr fu/kkZfjr dh xbZ fo}ku jkf'k vf/kdj.k }kjk fnyokbZ xbZ jkf'k LFkkbZ fu;ksZX;rk ds Rs. 4200/- x 12 x 18 Rs. 4,53,600/- Rs. 3,06,000/- dkj.k vk; dh x 50/100 deh pkSchl fnu vLirky esa HkrhZ jgus ckcr~A Rs. 12,000/- Rs. 12,000/-

fpfdRlk fcyksa ds ckcr~A Rs. 1,08,426/- Rs. 1,08,426/-

ekufld] 'kkjhfjd ihM+k] ifjogu O;;] Rs. 80,000/- Rs. 25,000/- ikSf"Vd vkgkj] vVs.MS.V [kpZ vkfn ckcr~A dqy vokWMZ jkf'k Rs. 6,54,026/- Rs. 4,51,426/-

12. rnuqlkj ;g vihy vkaf'kd :i ls Lohdkj dh tkdj fo}ku v/khuLFk vf/kdj.k eksVj okgu nq?kZVuk nkok vf/kdj.k ,oa vij ftyk ,oa ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k] QkLV Vªsd la[;k&1 C;koj] vtesj] vuqoku vafdr 'kekZ cuke jruflag oxSjkg eas fnukad 30-08-2011 }kjk ikfjr iapkV ftlds }kjk vihykFkhZ dks 4]51]426@&:i, fnyk, tkus dk vkns'k ikfjr fd;k x;k gS] mlds LFkku ij 6]54]026@&:i, dk iapkV ikfjr fd;k tkrk gS] vihykFkhZ }kjk fo}ku vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr iapkV ds rgr izkIr dh xbZ jkf'k dks la'kksf/kr iapkV jkf'k esa ls lek;ksftr fd;k tkdj c<+kbZ xbZ jkf'k 2]02]600@&:i, vihykFkhZ izkIr djus dk vf/kdkjh ik;k tkrk gSA

13. mDr jkf'k ij ;kfpdk nk;j djus dh frfFk ls vihykFkhZ 06 izfr'kr okf"kZd C;kt izkIr djus dk vf/kdkjh gSA

14. vkns'k dh izfr ds lkFk izdj.k dk vfHkys[k lacaf/kr vf/kdj.k dks ykSVk;k tkosA

15. gLrxr ;kfpdk v/khuLFk vf/kdj.k }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; dh iapkV jkf'k esa la'kks/ku dj mijksDrkuqlkj fuLrkfjr dh tkrh gSA

(BHUWAN GOYAL),J

Mahendra/

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