High Court Kerala High Court

Babu vs Arul Arasan on 18 August, 2008

Kerala High Court
Babu vs Arul Arasan on 18 August, 2008
       

  

  

 
 
  IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

MACA.No. 615 of 2003()


1. BABU, S/O. AUGUSTINE,
                      ...  Petitioner
2. GRACY, W/O. BABU, VARICATTU HOUSE,
3. ARUN, S/O. BABU, VARICATTU HOUSE,
4. AJANA BABU, D/O. BABU,

                        Vs



1. ARUL ARASAN, S/O. CHOKKALINGAM,
                       ...       Respondent

2. A. DEVARAJAN, S/O. ADIMOOLAM,

3. UNITED INDIA INSURANCE CO.LTD.,

4. SABU, S/O. M.V. PHILIP,

5. T.V. ANTO, S/O. VARU, THALIYATHU HOUSE,

6. NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO.LTD., TRICHUR.

                For Petitioner  :SRI.GEORGEKUTTY MATHEW

                For Respondent  :SRI.M.JACOB MURICKAN

The Hon'ble MR. Justice J.B.KOSHY
The Hon'ble MR. Justice THOMAS P.JOSEPH

 Dated :18/08/2008

 O R D E R

J.B. Koshy & Thomas P. Joseph, JJ.

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M.A.C.A. No. 615 of 2003

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Dated this the 18th day of August, 2008

Judgment

Koshy,J.

Daughter of the first two appellants died in a motor accident

on 1.1.1998. The parents, brother and sister of the deceased girl filed an

application for compensation claiming an amount of Rupees Five lakhs. The

Tribunal awarded Rs.1,25,000/- and directed the insurance company of the

offending vehicle (third respondent) to deposit the amount with 9% interest

from the date of application. The only dispute is regarding the quantum of

compensation. The deceased was aged 18 years at the time of accident. It

is the contention of the appellant that the deceased was a brilliant student.

She scored 542 marks out of 600 in the S.S.L.C. examination and 362 marks

out of 500 in the pre-degree examination and she was attending coaching

classes for entrance examination for MBBS at the time when the accident

occurred. It is true that she was a non-earning member. As per the second

schedule, notional income of a non-earning person is Rs.15,000/- per year.

One-third has to be deducted for personal expenses. If the age of the

deceased is considered, 16 is the apt multiplier, but, the mother of the

deceased was between 45 and 50. So, taking guidance from the second

schedule, we take 13 as the multiplier. If that be so, after deducting one-third

M.A.CA.No.615/2003 2

of the notional income, compensation payable will be Rs.10000 x 13 =

Rs.1,30,000/-. The Tribunal has awarded Rs.23,000/- for pain and suffering,

medical expenses, loss of love and affection, loss of estate, funeral expenses

etc. So, that has also to be added. Therefore, total compensation payable

will be Rs.1,53,000/-. From that, Rs.1,25,000/- awarded by the Tribunal has to

be deducted. So, additional compensation payable will be Rs.28,000/-. The

above Rs.28,000/- should be deposited by the third respondent insurance

company with 7.5% interest from the date of application till its deposit. On

deposit of the amount, appellant Nos.1 and 2 are allowed to withdraw the

same on equal proportion.

J.B.Koshy
Judge

Thomas P. Joseph
Judge

vaa

M.A.CA.No.615/2003 3

J.B. KOSHY
AND
THOMAS P.JOSEPH,JJ.

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M.A.C.A. No.615/2003

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Judgment

Dated:18th August, 2008