High Court of KeralaDivision BenchWrit Appeal partly allowed: Ext.P2 quashed; sal...

T A Archana v. Travancore Devaswom Board and Others

Case / Petition Number:WA No.1022 of 2015; WP(C).4226/2013

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • P. R. Ramachandra Menon
  • Anil K. Narendran
Judgment Date
2015-05-27
Court Decision / Holding
The Division Bench disposed of the writ appeal by setting aside the learned Single Judge’s finding that the appellant’s salary could be attached. Ext.P2 was quashed, and the court held that the salary of the appellant cannot be proceeded against for the balance of the loan debt. However, the court clarified that the 4th respondent society would be free to proceed against any property devolved on the appellant on her husband’s death to recover the balance. The court also left the matter without any order on costs.
Final Disposition
Writ Appeal partly allowed: Ext.P2 quashed; salary recovery blocked; recovery permissible only from property devolved on the death of the husband; no costs awarded.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • T A Archana

Respondents

  • Travancore Devaswom Board
  • Devaswom Commissioner, Travancore Devaswom Board
  • Deputy Devaswom Commissioner (Administration)
  • Devaswom Board Employees Co-operative Society Ltd
  • Asst. Devasw Commissioner, Travancore Devaswom Board (Thrikkariyoor Group)

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • P. K. Babu, Advocate

Counsels for Respondents

  • • A. N. Rajan Babu, Senior Counsel (TD Board)
  • • A. N. Santhosh (for R4)
  • • J. Joshi Thannikamattam (for R4)
  • • P. V. Baby (for R4)

Case Synopsis & Summary

This is a Division Bench decision of the Kerala High Court arising from WA No.1022 of 2015 filed against WP(C) No.4226/2013. The appellant, TA Archana, widow of late KG Raveendran Nair, challenged a January 28, 2013 Ext.P2 directive directing the 5th respondent to recover Rs.82,690 from her salary in equal monthly installments for a loan taken by her late husband from the 4th respondent, a Co‑operative Society. The appellant had earlier obtained compassionate employment, received about Rs.6 lakh in Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal compensation, and had undertaken to wipe off the debt with a Rs.10,000 payment. The core legal issue was whether salary could be attached to discharge the deceased husband’s loan when the appellant had not executed a valid salary‑deduction agreement under Section 37 of the Kerala Co‑operative Societies Act, 1969, and whether compassionate appointment or MACT compensation could be used to justify such deduction. The Single Judge held in favour of recovery against the salary and against the appellant’s liability; the Division Bench, however, substantially allowed the writ appeal, holding that there was no proper agreement to deduct salary under Section 37 and that compassionate appointment does not confer a right to attach salary or to attach MACT compensation. The court quashed Ext.P2 but left open recovery against property devolved on the appellant after her husband’s death.

Provisions of Law Cited

Section 37 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 (subs. 1 & 2; proviso as amended by Act 7 of 2010)Rule 52 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Rules, 1969 (sub‑rules 1, 2, 4)Section 36 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act (as referenced)Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 - Sections 166 and 168Fatal Accidents Act, 1855 - Sections 1A and 2

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Compassionate appointment is a privilege, not a perpetual right to property.
  • Compensation under the Fatal Accidents Act has distinct heads: 1A (loss to dependents) and 2 (estate loss); only certain amounts may be attachable.
  • Attachment of salary requires a specific, legally binding salary-deduction agreement under Section 37; mere undertakings or compacts do not automatically create such authority.
  • Compassionate appointment does not entitle a dependent to alienate or claim the deceased's property; recovery depends on statutory provisions and valid agreements.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The appellant argued that Ext.P2 directing salary recovery for the loan arrears of her late husband was unsustainable because there was no valid agreement under Section 37 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 authorizing deduction from salary. Ext.R4(b) is only an undertaking, not the kind of proper agreement required by Section 37(1) and its proviso as amended, and there is no express authorization by the employer to deduct. Compassionate appointment and the compensation received from MACT cannot be treated as rights to access or to recover from her salary, especially when the discharge of the loan cannot be enforced against her terminal benefits or the estate absent a statutory agreement. The appellant contended that the recovery should be restricted to property that devolves upon her on death, not her salary, and that the impugned Ext.P2 is not legally sustainable.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents argued that Ext.R4(a) bond and Ext.R4(b) undertaking created the liability of the appellant to meet the loan obligations; under Section 37 and Rule 52 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act and Rules, the employer is obliged to effect salary deductions in favor of the society, upon proper authorization and requisitions issued in Form No.9. They asserted that the appellant, being the spouse of the deceased borrower, had undertaken, and the society, through its proceedings, relied on such undertakings to recover the debt by directing the salary to be attached. They argued that compassionate appointment arises because of the employee’s death and may enable continued livelihood, but it does not negate the obligation to recover debts to the extent permitted by the Act and the Rules; MACT compensation may be within the estate or loss to the estate, but not to nullify a valid deduction if an agreement exists or can be construed from the conduct and undertakings.”},

Cited Precedents (8)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Sasikumar J. v. Branch Manager, Chittur Government Servants' Co-operative Society Ltd., Kollangode and others2014 (4) KHC 801PositiveCites that Section 37 requires a specific agreement for salary deduction; Ext.R4(b) does not constitute a valid agreement under Sub-section 1 of Section 37, supporting the appellant’s position that there was no valid basis to recover from salary.
Kollangode and others2014 (4) KHC 801PositiveReinforces the requirement of a formal agreement under Section 37 for salary deduction; supports the division bench’s view that mere undertakings may not suffice.
Gobald Motor Service v. VeluswamiAIR 1962 SC 1PositiveExplains the distinction between loss to the estate and loss of estate under the Fatal Accidents Act, relevant to determining what compensation may be attached.
C.K. Subramonia Iyer and others v. T. Kunhikuttan NairAIR 1970 SC 376PositiveAffirms that the action is governed by distinct heads for loss and estate, helping to interpret damages under MACT and its applicability to attachable sums.
Lekshmi v. Chairman, KSRTC1983 KLT 842PositiveAddresses the nature of compensation under Section 1A and its relation to estate vs loss, used to distinguish amounts recoverable by dependents.
Kumaran v. Mohammed Khader1994 (2) KLT 409PositiveProvides guidance on whether compensation forms part of the estate or is a separate entitlement; informs the division bench’s reasoning on attachability.
Omana P.K. and others v. Francis Edwin and others2011 (4) KLT 952PositiveDiscusses the classification of compensation (loss of dependency and estate) and its impact on attachment, reinforcing the court’s approach to MACT‑related sums.
Chairman, APSRTC, Hyderabad v. Smt. Shafiya Khatoon and OthersAIR 1985 AP 83PositiveEnunciates principles relating to loss to estate and the treatment of compensation, cited to differentiate liability and attachment.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN WEDNESDAY, THE 27TH DAY OF MAY 2015/6TH JYAISHTA, 1937 WA.No. 1022 of 2015 () IN WP(C).4226/2013 ------------------------------------------- AGAINST THE JUDGMENT IN WP(C) 4226/2013 of HIGH COURT OF KERALA DATED 24-03-2015 APPELLANT: ---------------- T A ARCHANA AGED 29 YEARS W/O. LATE KG RAVEENDRAN NAIR, MATTATHIL HOUSE (KAVANAL), NEAR MARADI UP SCHOOL, MOOVATTUPUZHA PO BY ADV. SRI.P.K.BABU RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------ 1. TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695001 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY 2. DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695001 3. DEPUTY DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER (ADMINISTRATION) THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695001 4. DEVASWOM BOARD EMPLOYEES CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD E-759 PERUMBAVOOR 683542 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY 5. THE ASST.DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, THRIKARIYOOR GROUP THRIKKARIYOOR 686 692 R4 BY ADV. SRI.A.N.SANTHOSH R4 BY ADV. SRI.JOSHY THANNICKAMATTAM R4 BY SRI.P.V.BABY R1 TO 3 & R5 BY SRI.A.N.RAJAN BABU, SC, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 27-05-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: **“CR”** ## **P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON & ANIL K. NARENDRAN, JJ. -------------------------------------------Writ Appeal No.1022 of 2015 ------------------------------------------Dated this the 27[th] day of May, 2015** ## **J U D G M E N T** ## Anil K. Narendran, J. The appellant is the petitioner in WP(C) No.4226/2013. The said writ petition was filed seeking a writ of mandamus commanding the respondents not to recover her salary for the loan arrears of her late husband. She has also sought for a writ of certiorari to quash Ext.P2 communication dated 28.01.2013 of the 3[rd] respondent, by which the 5[th] respondent has been directed to take necessary steps to recover from her salary, in equal monthly installments, a sum of Rs.82,690/- outstanding in the loan availed by her late husband K.G.Raveendran Nair from the 4[th] respondent Employees Co-operative Society. The sureties to the aforesaid loan have also filed WP(C) No.7440/2013. The learned Single Judge by judgment dated 24.03.2015, disposed of both the writ petitions holding that the property devolved to the appellant from her late husband can be proceeded against; similarly, the attachable portion of the salary of the sureties can W.A. No.1022 of 2015 2 also be proceeded against; and it is up to the award holder society to decide the course of action. The learned Single Judge held further that, the salary of the appellant is proceeded against since she has owned up the liability in Ext.R4(b) undertaking. The learned Single Judge observed that, the appellant obtained compassionate employment on the death of her husband; received a sizable amount as compensation in the motor accidents claim; she has also undertaken to wipe off the liability of her late husband after paying Rs.10,000/-, and therefore the 4[th] respondent society is justified in proceeding against the attachable portion of the salary of the widow also. Aggrieved by the judgment of the learned Single Judge, the appellant is before us in this appeal. 2. We heard arguments of the learned counsel for the appellant and also the learned Standing Counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board. 3. The appellant is working as 'Kazhakam' in Oottupura Ganapathi Devaswom under Thrikkariyoor Group of the Travancore Devaswom Board. Her late husband K.G.Raveendran Nair was an employee of the Travancore Devaswom Board. On 3 W.A. No.1022 of 2015 01.10.2004, while working as 'Kazhakam' under Thrikkariyoor Group, he died-in-harness in a motor accident occurred at Coimbatore. On his death, the appellant got appointment as parttime 'Kazhakam' under Thrikkariyoor Group on compassionate ground, vide Ext.P1 order dated 12.06.2006 of the 2[nd] respondent. While continuing as such, the appellant received a copy of Ext.P2 communication dated 28.01.2013 of the 3[rd] respondent, by which the 5[th] respondent has been directed to take necessary steps to recover from her salary, in equal monthly installments, a sum of Rs.82,690/- outstanding in the loan availed by her late husband from the 4[th] respondent society. It has been stated in Ext.P2 that, the Secretary of the 4[th] respondent society has intimated the 3[rd] respondent that, K.G.Raveendran Nair had availed a loan for Rs.39,000/- from the society on 04.12.2003 and that the loan amount outstanding together with interest comes to Rs.82,690/-. On receipt of a copy of Ext.P2, the appellant submitted Ext.P3 representation before the 2[nd] respondent, contending that the amount outstanding in respect of the loan availed by her late husband cannot be legally recovered from her salary. Therefore, the 2[nd] respondent was W.A. No.1022 of 2015 4 requested to cancel the recovery proposed in Ext.P2 from the salary payable to her. Due to the inaction on the part of the 2[nd] respondent in acting upon Ext.P3 representation, the appellant has approached this Court in WP(C) No.4226/2013. 4. The 4[th] respondent contended that, the late husband of the appellant had availed a loan for Rs.39,000/- from the society on 04.12.2003, after executing Ext.R4(a) bond dated 29.11.2003. He died in a motor accident on 01.10.2004 at Coimbatore and the appellant received around Rs.6,00,000/towards compensation and the aforesaid amount is still with her. She also got appointment under dying-in-harness scheme and is receiving a monthly salary of Rs.12,000/-. Therefore, she has no difficulty to remit the amount due to the 4[th] respondent society. Further, on 03.10.2012, the appellant remitted a sum of Rs.10,000/- with the 4[th] respondent society, towards the total sum of Rs.60,320/- outstanding in the loan availed by her late husband and agreed to clear the balance amount, vide Ext.R4(b) undertaking dated 03.10.2007. After the death of K.G.Raveendran Nair, the 4[th] respondent society submitted Ext.R4(c) letter dated 11.10.2004 to the Secretary of the 5 W.A. No.1022 of 2015 Travancore Devaswom Board, in order to recover a sum of Rs.43,356/- due to it from his terminal benefits. It was followed by Ext.R4(d) letter dated 11.10.2004 and Ext.R4(e) letter dated 18.10.2007 addressed to the 5[th] respondent and Ext.R4(f) letter dated 17.12.2012 addressed to the 2[nd] respondent. The 4[th] respondent would contend that, since the appellant is employed under dying-in-harness scheme on the death of her husband and getting salary, she cannot escape from the liability of her late husband towards the 4[th] respondent society. Apart from that, the appellant received around Rs.6,00,000/- from the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Muvattupuzha, towards compensation for the death of her husband. Further, she along with her daughter inherited the properties of the deceased. The 4[th] respondent has also filed an additional counter affidavit dated 19.03.2015, contending that, the appellant is drawing a monthly salary of Rs.15,751/- and after deducting Rs.1,600/- towards Provident Fund, Rs.490/- towards LIC and Rs.2,000/- towards loan recovery, she is getting more than Rs.13,500/- per month. Further, on 12.01.2014 she had submitted Ext.R4(g) application before the society to close the loan account of her late husband W.A. No.1022 of 2015 6 under 'Aswas Scheme'. The said application was considered by the committee of the society and the appellant was directed vide Ext.R4(h) communication dated 06.03.2014 to remit the principal amount of Rs.39,000/- on or before 15.03.2014, but she failed to remit the said amount within the time limit stipulated. Therefore, the 4[th] respondent would contend that, the appellant is not entitled for any indulgence from this Court. 5. The first question that arises for consideration in the appeal is as to whether the 4[th] respondent society is legally entitled to proceed against the salary of the appellant, for the amount recoverable from her late husband, since she has owned up that liability in Ext.R4(b) undertaking obtained by the society in a plain paper. 6. As borne out from records, it is on the strength of Ext.R4(a) surety bond, the late husband of the appellant availed a loan for Rs.39,000/- from the 4[th] respondent society. Going by Ext.R4(a), the borrower has authorised the 5[th] respondent to deduct a sum of Rs.675/- from his monthly salary and pay it to the 4[th] respondent society in discharge of his liability towards the loan transaction. Further, the borrower and the sureties have also W.A. No.1022 of 2015 7 undertaken that, in case of any default in payment of the monthly installments, they shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire loan amount outstanding, together with interest and other expenses, and that the 4[th] respondent society shall be entitled to recover the same by proceeding against their movable and immovable properties. In Ext.R4(a), the 5[th] respondent has also undertaken to deduct a sum of Rs.675/- from the monthly salary of the borrower and to pay the said amount to the 4[th] respondent society. 7. Section 37 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') deals with deduction from salary to meet society's claim in certain cases. Going by Sub-section (1) of Section 37, notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, a member of a society, may execute an agreement in favour of the society providing that his employer or the officer disbursing his salary or wages shall be competent to deduct from the salary or wages payable to him by the employer, such amount as may be specified in the agreement and to pay the amount so deducted to the society in satisfaction of any debts or other demand owing by W.A. No.1022 of 2015 8 the member to the society. Sub-section (2) provides further that, on the execution of such an agreement the employer or the officer disbursing the salary or wages of any such member as is referred to in Sub-section (1) shall, if so required by the society by requisition in writing and so long as such debt or demand or any part of it remains unpaid, make the deduction in accordance with the agreement and pay the amounts so deducted to the society within seven days from the date of the deduction. Going by the proviso to Sub-section (2), inserted by Act 7 of 2010, with effect from 28.04.2010, this sub-section shall not apply if the employees, whose salary is to be deducted, are not informed at least thirty days in advance, by notice duly acknowledged, about the dues on loan or award amount. 8. Rule 52 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Rules, 1969 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Rules') provides for deductions from salary or wages. Going by Sub-rule (1) of Rule 52, on the execution of an agreement under Sub-section (1) of Section 37, the society may send intimation by registered post/ local delivery of the execution of the agreement to the employer or the officer disbursing the salary or wages of the member who W.A. No.1022 of 2015 9 has executed the agreement and furnish the said employer or officer with a copy of such agreement certified in the manner specified in Rule 32. The employer or the officer disbursing the salary or wages shall on receipt of such intimation from the society make a note of the agreement in the register maintained by him for the disbursement of salary or wages. Sub-section (2) provides that, in respect of every member who has executed the said agreement and in respect of whom intimation has been sent under Sub-rule (1), the society may send to the employer or the officer disbursing the salary or wages of the member, a requisition every month for the recovery from the salary or wages of such member of the amount payable by the member to the society for the month and for the remittance of such amount to the society. Such requisition shall be in Form No.9 and shall specify the total amount to be recovered from the salary or wages of the member for the month and shall be sent at least seven clear days prior to the last working day of the month. Subsection (4) provides further that, any amount recovered by an employer or officer disbursing salary or wages from an employee by deduction from his salary or wages in pursuance of a W.A. No.1022 of 2015 10 requisition received from any society or societies as the case may be, shall be remitted by such employer or officer as the case may be to the society or societies concerned within the period specified in Sub-section (2) of Section 37. 9. A bare reading of Ext.R4(a) bond makes it abundantly clear that, the deceased borrower has authorised the 5[th] respondent only to deduct a sum of Rs.675/- from his monthly salary and pay it to the 4[th] respondent society in discharge of his liability towards the loan transaction. Therefore, on the strength of Ext.R4(a), the 4[th] respondent is not legally entitled to recover any amount from the terminal benefits of the deceased borrower. Since the deduction contemplated under Section 36 of the Act, read with Rule 52 of the Rules, is from the salary/wages and not any recovery from the gratuity or other terminal benefits of the deceased borrower, respondents 1, 2 and 5 cannot be found fault with for not acting upon the request made by the 4[th] respondent society in Exts.R4(c) to R4(f) to effect recovery from the terminal benefits payable on the death of the borrower. 10. In **Sasikumar J. v. Branch Manager, Chittur Government Servants' Co-operative Society Ltd.,** W.A. No.1022 of 2015 11 **Kollangode and others (2014 (4) KHC 801)** a learned Judge of this Court held that, Section 37 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 states unequivocally that, notwithstanding any law in force, if there is an agreement between the borrower and the creditor Society/Bank with respect to deduction of salary for satisfaction of debt, then the employer or the Disbursing Officer of the borrower shall be obliged to deduct the salary and pay the amounts demanded by the creditor Society/Bank on default being committed. 11. In the case on hand, as evident from Ext.R4(a) bond the appellant is neither a co-borrower nor a surety in the loan availed by her late husband from the 4[th] respondent society. She has also not executed any agreement with the 4[th] respondent society, in terms of Sub-section (1) of Section 37 of the Act, providing that the 5[th] respondent, who is the officer disbursing her salary shall be competent to deduct from the salary payable to her any specified amount and to pay the amount so deducted to the 4[th] respondent society in satisfaction of any liability of her late husband in the loan availed from the said society. 12. In Ext.R4(b) letter obtained by the 4[th] respondent W.A. No.1022 of 2015 12 society in a plain paper, the appellant had agreed to clear the balance amount outstanding in the loan availed by her late husband. Such a document can, by no stretch of imagination, be termed as an agreement in terms of Sub-section (1) of Section 37 of the Act, empowering or entitling the 4[th] respondent society to proceed against the attachable portion of her salary. In the absence of any such agreement, the 5[th] respondent has no authority to deduct any amount from the salary payable to the appellant on the request of the 4[th] respondent society. Therefore, the direction of the 3[rd] respondent as contained in Ext.P2 communication addressed to the 5[th] respondent cannot be sustained in law. When Section 37 of the Act can be resorted to by the 4[th] respondent society only if there is a specific agreement to that regard, the finding of the learned Single Judge that, the salary of the appellant can be proceeded against since she has owned up the liability in Ext.R4(b) undertaking cannot be sustained. 13. The second question that arises for consideration in this appeal is as to whether the attachable portion of the appellant's salary can be proceeded against by the 4[th] respondent W.A. No.1022 of 2015 13 society, for realising the balance amount outstanding in the loan availed by her late husband, for the reason that on the death of her late husband she got employment on compassionate grounds. 14. The object of compassionate appointment has been, time and again, reiterated by the Apex Court 'as to give immediate financial help to the bereaved family which has lost its sole bread winner, to overcome sudden economic crisis'. Compassionate appointment is traceable only to the scheme framed by the employer or any statutory provisions (similar to Rule 51B of Chapter XIVA of the Kerala Education Rules, 1959) for such appointment and there is no right whatsoever outside such scheme or rules. Compassionate appointment is a privilege extended by the employer to the dependents of an employee who died-in-harness to tide over the sudden economic crisis. The right to compassionate appointment and the right to inherit property of the deceased employee are quite distinct. The right to compassionate appointment is not a right to property of the deceased employee, which can be the subject matter of an alienation or bequeath during his life time, or which can be W.A. No.1022 of 2015 14 inherited along with any property left by the deceased subject to customary or statutory law of inheritance. Therefore, on getting appointment on compassionate grounds, the dependent of a deceased employee is not inheriting any property left by the deceased. In such circumstances, merely for the reason that the appellant has got employment on compassionate grounds on the death of her late husband, it cannot be contended that, the attachable portion of her salary can be proceeded against for realising the balance amount outstanding in the loan availed by her late husband from the 4[th] respondent society. 15. The third question that arises for consideration in this appeal is as to whether the attachable portion of the appellant's salary can be proceeded against by the 4[th] respondent society, for realising the balance amount outstanding in the loan availed by her late husband, for the reason that on the death of her husband in a motor accident she received the compensation awarded by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal. 16. Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with application for compensation arising out of an accident of the nature specified in Sub-section (1) of Section 165, i.e., accidents W.A. No.1022 of 2015 15 involving the death of, or bodily injury to persons arising out of the use of motor vehicles, or damages to any property of a third party so arising, or both. As per Sub-section (1) of Section 166, an application for compensation arising out of an accident of the nature specified in Sub-section (1) of Section 165 may be made (i) by the person who has sustained the injury; or (ii) by the owner of the property; or (iii) where death has resulted from the accident, by all or any of the legal representatives of the deceased; or (iv) by any agent duly authorised by the person injured or all or any of the legal representatives of the deceased, as the case may be. Going by the proviso to Sub-rule (1), where all the legal representatives of the deceased have not joined in any such application for compensation, the application shall be made on behalf of or for the benefit of all the legal representatives of the deceased and the legal representatives who have not so joined, shall be impleaded as respondents to the application. As per Section 168 of the Act, the Claims Tribunal, after giving the parties an opportunity of being heard, hold an enquiry into the claims and, subject to the provisions of Section 162 may make an award determining the amount of W.A. No.1022 of 2015 16 compensation which appears to be just and specifying the person or persons to whom compensation shall be paid and in making the award the Claims Tribunal shall specify the amount which shall be paid by the insurer or owner or driver of the vehicle involved in the accident or by all or any of them as the case may be. ## 17. In **Kumaran v. Mohammed Khader (1994 (2) KLT** **409)** a Division Bench of this Court held that, Section 110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 (which corresponds to Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988) only prescribes the procedure for determination of compensation. The substantive law for determination of compensation is found in Sections 1A and 2 of the Fatal Accidents Act, 1855. ## 18. In **Gobald Motor Service v. Veluswami (AIR 1962** **SC 1)** , the Apex Court considered the scope of Sections 1A and 2 of the Fatal Accidents Act, 1855 and held that, the cause at action under Section 1A and that under Section 2 are different. While under Section 1A damages are recoverable for the benefit of the persons mentioned therein, under Section 2 compensation goes to the benefit of the estate; whereas under Section 1A W.A. No.1022 of 2015 17 damages are payable in respect of loss sustained by the persons mentioned therein, under Section 2 damages can be claimed inter alia for loss of expectation of life. Though in some cases parties that are entitled to compensation under both the sections may happen to be the same persons, they need not necessarily be so; persons entitled to benefit under Section 1A may be different from those claiming under Section 2. Prima facie as the two claims are to be based upon different causes of action, the claimants, whether the same or different, would be entitled to recover compensation separately under both the heads. The Apex Court held further that, the right of action under Sections 1A and 2 of the Act are quite distinct and independent. If a person taking benefit under both the sections is the same, he cannot be permitted to recover twice over for the same loss. In awarding damages under both the heads, there shall not be duplication of the same claim, that is, if any part of the compensation representing the loss to the estate goes into the calculation of the personal loss under Section 1A of the Act, that portion shall be excluded in giving compensation under Section 2 and vice versa. Later, in **C.K.Subramonia Iyer and others v. T.Kunhikuttan** W.A. No.1022 of 2015 18 **Nair (AIR 1970 SC 376)** , the Apex Court held that, compulsory damages under Section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act, 1855 for wrongful death must be limited strictly to the pecuniary loss to the beneficiaries and that under Section 2, the measure of damages is the economic loss sustained by the estate. Still later, a Division Bench of this Court, in **Lekshmi v. Chairman, KSRTC (1983 KLT 842)** held that, a claim under Section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act, namely a claim by the dependants, is not as legal representatives of the deceased, but on their own account. It is compensation for loss caused to them by the death of the deceased, secured to them as a statutory right under Section 1A of the Act. 19. Following the principle laid down in the aforesaid decisions, a Division Bench of this Court in **Kumaran's case (supra)** held that, in order to consider whether the compensation awarded by the Claims Tribunal towards pecuniary loss sustained by the legal heirs is a part of the estate of the deceased, we have to see whether the compensation awarded to the legal heirs falls under Section 1A or Section 2 of the Fatal Accidents Act or under both the sections. Repelling the contention W.A. No.1022 of 2015 19 raised by the learned counsel for the revision petitioner that, the amount awarded by the Claims Tribunal goes to the estate of the deceased to be shared by them, the Division Bench held that, except the amount which has been awarded by way of 'loss to the estate' the compensation awarded represents the money equivalent of the loss sustained by the legal representatives. Later, in **Omana P.K. and others v. Francis Edwin and others (2011 (4) KLT 952)** a learned Judge of this Court had the occasion to consider the question whether the amount awarded by the Claims Tribunal by way of 'compensation for loss of dependency and estate' forms part of 'loss of estate' or 'loss to the estate' of the deceased. After noticing the judgment of a Division Bench of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in **Chairman, APSRTC, Hyderabad v. Smt. Shafiya Khatoon and Others (AIR 1985 AP 83)** that, “the loss of benefit to the estate of the deceased is the loss arising to the estate under the heads of mental and physical pain, loss of expectation of life and loss of amenities, and that the said amounts are payable to the legal heirs under the provisions of the Legal Representatives Suits Act, 1855 read with Section 306 of the Indian Succession W.A. No.1022 of 2015 20 Act, 1925”, the learned Judge of this Court held that, the capitalized value of the income spent on the dependents, subject to relevant deductions, is the pecuniary loss sustained by the members of his family through his death. The capitalized value of his income, subject to relevant deductions, would be the loss caused to the estate by his death. In other words, what amount the dependents would have got less deductions if any that could be made under law is the loss to the estate of the deceased. That goes to the legal heirs of the deceased. On the other hand, loss of estate includes compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of amenities, etc. of the deceased. That amount goes to the legal heirs by virtue of Section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act. Thus the position is clear that, what could be attached from the amount of compensation is the loss of estate and not the loss to the estate of the deceased. 20. In the case on hand, it is not in dispute that, the appellant received the compensation amount awarded by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, on the death of her husband in a motor accident. In the light of the principle enunciated in the decisions referred to supra, out of the compensation awarded by W.A. No.1022 of 2015 21 the Claims Tribunal the amount of compensation by way of 'loss to the estate' of the deceased represents the money equivalent of the loss sustained by the appellant as a legal representative of the deceased, which cannot be proceeded against for realising any amount due from the deceased. On the other hand, the amount of compensation, if any, received by way of 'loss of estate', under the heads pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of amenities, etc. of the deceased, which goes to the appellant as the legal representative of the deceased by virtue of Section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act, could be proceeded against for realising any amount due from the deceased. In the case on hand, there is no material to indicate that the appellant had received any compensation by way of 'loss of estate'. Moreover, even if the appellant had received any compensation by way of 'loss of estate' on the death of her husband, that will not entitle the 4[th] respondent society to proceed against the attachable portion of her salary, since recourse to such a procedure can be permitted only if there is a specific agreement executed by the appellant in terms of Section 37 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, read with Rule 52 of the Kerala Co-operative W.A. No.1022 of 2015 22 Societies Rules. Therefore, merely for the reason that, on the death of her husband, the appellant received certain amount of compensation in the motor accident claim, the attachable portion of her salary cannot be proceeded against for realising the balance amount outstanding in the loan availed by her late husband from the 4[th] respondent society. In such circumstances, Ext.P2 communication of the 3[rd] respondent directing the 5[th] respondent to proceed against the salary of the appellant cannot be sustained. 21. Therefore, we are unable to agree with the finding of the learned Single Judge that, since the appellant obtained compassionate employment on the death of her husband; received a sizable amount as compensation in the motor accident claim; and undertaken in Ext.R4(b) to wipe off the liability of her late husband after paying Rs.10,000/-, the 4[th] respondent society is justified in proceeding against the attachable portion of her salary. 22. In the result, this writ appeal is disposed of setting aside the aforesaid finding in the judgment of the learned Single Judge dated 24.03.2015 in WP(C) No.4226/2013. We set aside W.A. No.1022 of 2015 23 Ext.P2 communication dated 28.01.2013 of the 3[rd] respondent, by which the 5[th] respondent has been directed to take necessary steps to effect recovery from the appellant's salary, the amount outstanding in the loan availed by her late husband from the 4[th] respondent society and hold that, the salary of the appellant cannot be proceeded against for realising the balance amount outstanding in the loan availed by her late husband from the 4[th] respondent society. WP(C) No.4226/2013 is allowed to that extent. 23. But, it is made clear that, the 4[th] respondent society will be free to proceed against any property devolved on the appellant on the death of her husband, for realising the balance amount outstanding in the loan availed by him. No order as to costs. ## Sd/- **P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON, JUDGE.** Sd/- ## **ANIL K. NARENDRAN, JUDGE.** Pn