P. Viswanathan v. Jagath Prasad and Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN** **TUESDAY, THE 11TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2020 / 22ND MAGHA, 1941** **MACA.No.1906 OF 2008** **AGAINST THE AWARD IN OPMV 1482/2001 DATED 22-06-2007 OF ADDITIONAL MOTOR ACCIDENTS CLAIMS TRIBUNAL - I, KOZHIKODE** ## **APPELLANT/PETITIONER:** **P.K.VISWANATHAN, AGED 44 YEARS S/O.KUMARAN, PALLIMALAKUNNU HOUSE, P.O.KOTTOOLY, KOZHIKODE.** **BY ADVS. SRI.JACOB ABRAHAM SMT.KOCHUMOL KODUVATH** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:** **1 JAGATH PRASAD, S/O.KUMARAN KIZHAKKEPATTU HOUSE, PO.S.V.COLONY, KOZHIKODE. 2 ORIENTAL INSURANCE CO.LTD. BRANCH OFFICE, MAVOOR ROAD, KOZHIKODE.** **R1 BY ADV. SRI.K.M.JAMALUDHEEN R1 BY ADV. SMT.LATHA PRABHAKARAN R2 BY ADV. SRI.VPK.PANICKER** **THIS MOTOR ACCIDENT CLAIMS APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 11.02.2020, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** MACA No.1906 of 2008 2 ## **JUDGMENT** The appellant is the claimant in O.P(MV) No.1482 of 2001 on the file of the Additional Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal-I, Kozhikode, a claim petition filed under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, claiming compensation on account of the injuries sustained by him in a motor accident, which occurred on 07.12.2000, while he was pedalling a bicycle. At the place of accident, he was knocked down by a scooter bearing registration No.KL-11/4173, owned and driven by the 1[st] respondent and insured with the 2[nd] respondent. In the accident, he sustained injuries. Alleging that the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent riding of scooter by the 1[st] respondent, claim petition was filed before the Tribunal claiming a total compensation of Rs.2,00,000/- under various heads. 2. Before the Tribunal, the 1[st] respondent did not file any written statement. 3. The 2[nd] respondent insurer filed written statement admitting insurance coverage of the scooter involved in the accident; however, denying the negligence alleged against its rider. The insurer disputed the age, occupation, monthly income, etc. stated in the claim petition. The insurer contended that the MACA No.1906 of 2008 3 compensation claimed is highly excessive. 4. Before the Tribunal, Exts.A1 to A6 were marked on the side of the appellant/claimant. The document marked as Ext.C1 is the disability certificate issued by the Medical Board assessing the permanent disability of the appellant/claimant, on account of the injuries sustained in the accident. 5. After considering the pleadings and materials on record, the Tribunal arrived at a conclusion that the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent riding of scooter by its rider. Since insurance coverage of the said vehicle was not in dispute, the insurer was held liable to indemnify the insured. Under various heads, the Tribunal awarded a total compensation of Rs.51,050/(less Rs.25,000/- already paid under Section 140 of the Motor Vehicles Act), together with interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of petition till date of deposit, with a cost of Rs.750/-, and the insurer was directed to satisfy the award. 6. Dissatisfied with the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal, the appellant/claimant is before this Court in this appeal. 7. Heard the learned counsel for the appellant/claimant, learned counsel for the 1[st] respondent and also the learned MACA No.1906 of 2008 4 Standing Counsel for the 2[nd] respondent insurer. 8. The issue that arises for consideration in this appeal is as to whether the appellant is entitled for enhancement of the compensation awarded by the Tribunal under various heads. 9. In **State of Haryana v. Jasbir Kaur [(2003) 7 SCC 484]** the Apex Court held that the Tribunal under Section 168 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is required to make an award determining the amount of compensation which is to be in the real sense 'damages' which in turn appears to it to be 'just and reasonable'. It has to be borne in mind that compensation for loss of limbs or life can hardly be weighed in golden scales. But at the same time it has be to be borne in mind that the compensation is not expected to be a windfall for the victim. Statutory provisions clearly indicate that the compensation must be 'just' and it cannot be a bonanza; not a source of profit; but the same should not be a pittance. 10. In **National Insurance Company Ltd. v. Pranay Sethi [(2017) 16 SCC 680]** a Constitution Bench of the Apex Court held that, Section 168 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with the concept of 'just compensation' and the same has to be determined on the foundation of fairness, reasonableness and MACA No.1906 of 2008 5 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. 11. In the instant case, the compensation awarded by the Tribunal under various heads reads thus; |Pain and suffering|23,000| |---|---| |Loss of earning|2,500| |Hospital charges|1,500| |Medical expense|450| |Bystander expense|900| |Loss of amenities|3,500| |Compensation for disability|19,200| |total|**51,050**| 12. The accident occurred on 07.12.2000. At the time of accident, the appellant was aged 38 years. The appellant claimed a monthly income of Rs.6,000/- as construction worker. No materials were produced before the Tribunal to prove the monthly income of the appellant. The appellant has also not chosen to mount the box. In the absence of any reliable materials, the Tribunal fixed the monthly income notionally as Rs.1,250/-, for the MACA No.1906 of 2008 6 purpose of assessing compensation under various heads. ## 13. In **Ramachandrappa v. Manager, Royal Sundaram Alliance Insurance Company Limited [(2011) 13 SCC 236]** the Apex Court reckoned the monthly income of a coolie (manual labourer), who met with a road accident in the year 2004, at the age of 35 years, notionally as Rs.4,500/-. The Apex Court held that, the claimant who was working as a coolie cannot be expected to produce any documentary evidence to substantiate his claim. In the absence of any other evidence contrary to the claim made by the claimant, in the facts of the said case, the Tribunal should have accepted the claim of the claimant. The Apex Court made it clear that, in all cases and in all circumstances, the Tribunal need not accept the claim of the claimant, in the absence of supporting material. It depends on the facts of each case. In a given case, if the claim made is so exorbitant or if the claim made is contrary to ground realities, the Tribunal may not accept the claim and may proceed to determine the possible income by resorting to some guess work, which may include the ground realities prevailing at the relevant point of time. 14. In **Syed Sadiq v. Divisional Manager, United India Insurance Co. Ltd. [(2014) 2 SCC 735]** , taking note of the MACA No.1906 of 2008 7 earlier decision in **Ramachandrappa's case (supra)** , the Apex Court reckoned the monthly income of a vegetable vendor, who met with a road accident in the year 2008, at the age of 24 years, notionally as Rs.6,500/-. In the said decision, the Apex Court held that, a labourer in an unorganised sector doing his own business cannot be expected to produce documents to prove his monthly income. Therefore, there was no reason for the Tribunal and the High Court to ask for evidence to prove his monthly income. Going by the state of economy prevailing at that time and the rising prices in agricultural products, the Apex Court accepted his case that a vegetable vendor is reasonably capable of earning 6,500/per month. 15. In the absence of any reliable evidence, considering the economic conditions prevailing at the time of accident, i.e., during the year 2000, and taking note of the fixation of notional monthly income by the Apex Court in the decisions referred to supra, this Court deem it appropriate to re-fix the monthly income of the appellant notionally as Rs.2,500/-, for the purpose of assessing compensation under various heads. 16. The document marked as Ext.A2 is the treatment card and Exts.A3 and A4 are the scan reports issued from the Medical MACA No.1906 of 2008 8 College Hospital, Kozhikode. Ext.A5 is the O.P. Ticket. As per medical records, in the accident, the appellant sustained serious head injury. He had undergone temporal parietal craniotomy. He had undergone inpatient treatment for a period of 18 days. In the award, the Tribunal noticed that the appellant continued treatment till 11.08.2001. Ext.A6 series of medical bills are for a sum of Rs.450/-. 17. In Ext.C1 disability certificate, the Medical Board assessed the permanent disability of the appellant, on account of the injuries sustained in the accident, as 8%. The Tribunal accepted the percentage of permanent disability assessed by the Medical Board, for the purpose of awarding compensation under various heads. 18. Towards loss of earning, the Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs.2,500/-, at the rate of Rs.1,250/- for a period of 2 months. As noticed by the Tribunal, the appellant continued treatment till 11.08.2001. Considering the said fact, the period of 2 months fixed by the Tribunal for granting loss of earning is re-fixed as 8 months. Since the monthly income of the appellant is re-fixed notionally as Rs.2,500/-, the compensation under the head loss of earning is re-fixed as Rs.20,000/- (2,500 x 8), resulting an MACA No.1906 of 2008 9 ## additional compensation of **Rs.17,500/-** (20,000 – 2,500) 19. On account of the injuries sustained in the accident, the appellant had undergone inpatient treatment for 18 days. The accident is of the year 2000. Towards transportation to hospital (hospital charges), the Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs.1,500/-. Considering the nature of injuries sustained and the treatment the appellant had undergone, as borne out from medical records, the compensation under this head is re-fixed as Rs.2,000/-, resulting an additional compensation of **Rs.500/-** (2,000 – 1,500). 20. Towards bystander expenses the Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs.900/-. Towards extra nourishment, the Tribunal awarded no amount. The accident is of the year 2000 and the appellant had undergone inpatient treatment for 18 days. Considering the nature of injuries sustained and the treatment the appellant had undergone, as borne out from medical records, this Court deem it appropriate to grant a sum of **Rs.1,800/-** (100 x 18) towards extra nourishment. The compensation under the head bystander expenses is re-fixed as Rs.2,700/- (150 x 18), resulting an additional compensation of **Rs.1,800/-** (2,700 - 900). 21. Towards medical expenses, the Tribunal awarded a sum MACA No.1906 of 2008 10 of Rs.450/-, covered by Ext.A6 series of medical bills. In the absence of any further materials, the compensation awarded by the Tribunal under this head represents just and reasonable compensation, which requires no enhancement in this appeal. 22. In **Sarla Verma v. Delhi Transport Corporation [(2009) 6 SCC 121]** , the Apex Court, after referring to its earlier decisions in **Kerala State Road Transport Corporation v. Susamma Thomas [(1994) 2 SCC 176]** , **U.P. State Road Transport Corporation v. Trilok Chandra [(1996) 4 SCC 362]** and **New India Assurance Co. Ltd. v. Charlie [(2005) 10 SCC 720]** held that the multiplier to be used should be as mentioned in column (4) of the Table in paragraph 40 of the said decision [prepared by applying **Susamma Thomas** , **Trilok Chandra** and **Charlie** ], which starts with an operative multiplier of **18** [for the age groups of 15 to 20 and 21 to 25 years], reduced by one unit for every five years, i.e., multiplier of **17** for 26 to 30 years, multiplier of **16** for 31 to 35 years, multiplier of **15** for 36 to 40 years, multiplier of **14** for 41 to 45 years, and multiplier of **13** for 46 to 50 years, then reduced by two units for every five years, i.e., multiplier of **11** for 51 to 55 years, multiplier of **9** for 56 to 60 years, multiplier of **7** for 61 to 65 years and multiplier of **5** for 66 MACA No.1906 of 2008 11 to 70 years. 23. In **National Insurance Company Ltd. v. Pranay Sethi [(2017) 16 SCC 680]** a Constitution Bench of the Apex Court held that, as far as the multiplier is concerned, the Claims Tribunal and the Courts shall be guided by Step 2 that finds place in paragraph 19 of **Sarla Verma** , read with paragraph 42 of the said judgment. 24. In the instant case, as on the date of accident, the appellant was aged 38 years. In the light of the decisions of the Apex Court in **Sarla Verma's case** and **Pranay Sethi's case** referred to supra, the multiplier of 16 applied by the Tribunal is not correct and the proper multiplier to be applied is **15** . 25. Towards compensation for permanent disability, the Tribunal awarded a sum of Rs.19,200/- (1,250 x 12 x 16 x 8/100). Since the monthly income of the appellant is re-fixed notionally as Rs.2,500/-, applying the multiplier of 15 applicable to the age group of the appellant and the percentage of permanent disability as 8%, the compensation under the head permanent disability is re-fixed as Rs.36,000/- (2,500 x 12 x 15 x 8/100), resulting an additional compensation of **Rs.16,800/-** (36,000 – 19,200). 26. Towards loss of amenities the Tribunal awarded a sum MACA No.1906 of 2008 12 of Rs.3,500/-. In Ext.C1 disability certificate the permanent disability of the appellant, on account of the injuries sustained in the accident, is assessed as 8%. Considering the nature of injuries sustained and 8% permanent disability on account of those injuries, as assessed in Ext.C1 disability certificate, the compensation awarded by the Tribunal under this head is re-fixed as Rs.10,000/-, resulting an additional compensation of **Rs.6,500/-** (10,000 – 3,500). 27. In the result, the appellant/claimant will be entitled for payment of an additional compensation of **Rs.44,900/-** (Rupees forty four thousand nine hundred only) [17,500 + 500 + 1,800 + 1,800 + 16,800 + 6,500] in this appeal, which will carry interest at the rate of **8%** per annum from the date of petition till realisation, excluding the period of delay of 314 days in filing this appeal, which was condoned by the order dated 22.07.2019, subject to the condition that the appellant will not be entitled to claim interest for the enhanced compensation, if any, granted in the appeal for the period of delay. The 2[nd] respondent insurer shall satisfy the additional compensation granted in this appeal, together with interest, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment, after deducting MACA No.1906 of 2008 13 the liability, if any, of the appellant/claimant towards Balance Court Fee and Legal Benefit Fund. The disbursement of additional compensation to the appellant/claimant shall be made taking note of the law on the point and in terms of the directives issued by this Court in Circular No.3 of 2019 dated 06.09.2019 and clarified further in Official Memorandum No.D1-62475/2016 dated 07.11.2019. The appellant shall provide his Bank account details (attested copy of the relevant page of the Bank Passbook having details of the Bank Account Number and IFSC Code of the Branch) before the Tribunal, with copy to the learned Standing Counsel for the insurer within one month from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. This appeal is disposed of as above. No order as to costs. **Sd/-** ## **ANIL K.NARENDRAN** JV **JUDGE**