Delhi High Court High Court

Master Feroz vs Rajinder Kumar & Ors. on 24 May, 2010

Delhi High Court
Master Feroz vs Rajinder Kumar & Ors. on 24 May, 2010
Author: Shiv Narayan Dhingra
 *                   IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+                    F.A.O. No.480 of 2003 & C.M. Appl. No.5601 of 2008
%                                                                            24.05.2010

         MASTER FEROZ                                    ...... Appellant
                             Through: Mr. S.N. Parashar, Advocate.
                                 Versus
         RAJINDER KUMAR & ORS.                           ......Respondents
                             Through: Ms. Shantha Devi Raman, Adv. for R-3.

                                                            Reserved on: 19th May, 2010
                                                          Pronounced on: 24th May, 2010
         JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA

1.       Whether reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment?
2.       To be referred to the reporter or not?
3.       Whether judgment should be reported in Digest?

                                     JUDGMENT

C.M. Appl. No.5601 of 2008

This is an application on behalf of the appellant under Order IX Rule 4 CPC for

restoration of the appeal which was dismissed for non-prosecution on 4th February, 2008.

For the reasons stated in the application, the same is allowed and appeal is

restored to its original number.

The application stands disposed of.

F.A.O. No.480 of 2003

1. The present appeal has been filed for enhancement of compensation on behalf of

the injured by next friend. The injured at the time of accident, i.e., on 26th September,

2001, was a child aged around 11 years. He fractured his right leg in the accident and

was treated at GTB Hospital. The father of the injured appeared as a witness and stated

that apart from taking treatment from GTB Hospital, treatment was also taken from a

private hospital and an amount between Rs.15,000-Rs.20,000/- was spent. However, no

bills of private treatment were produced nor the name of doctor of the Hospital from

whom treatment was taken disclosed. The Tribunal allowed a sum of Rs.500/- to the

F.A.O. No.480/2003 Page No.1 of 2
injured towards purchase of medicines, etc. The Tribunal further allowed a sum of

Rs.15,000/- to the injured on account of physical pain, suffering and mental trauma and

an amount of Rs.2,500/- was allowed on the ground that child could not go to school for

three months. Thus, a total compensation of Rs.18,000/- along with interest @ 8 per cent

per annum on it from the date of filing of petition till realization was allowed.

2. During arguments in appeal, counsel for the appellant only pressed the issue that

the Tribunal did not award adequate compensation for loss of education. It is submitted

that one year of the child got spoiled due to the accident. This argument is not tenable.

The accident had taken place on 26th September, 2001. The child thus, if studying, would

have got admission in the school either in May, 2001 or latest by July, 2001. No

evidence was produced before the court that the child did not take exam that year. Since

it was a case of fracture, the leg of the child was put in cast. The child was free to study

at home. He had visited GTB Hospital initially soon after the accident and then on

3rd October, 2001, as per the record. In cases of fracture, the cast is put normally for six

weeks to eight weeks. The joining of bones in case of children of growing age is very

fast since that is the age of bone formation. Thus, if the child had wanted to study, there

was no one, who could have stopped the child from studying and appearing in

examination.

3. I find no ground to enhance the compensation on the ground of loss of educational

year since no evidence was placed before the Tribunal in this respect. The appeal is

dismissed.

SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA J.

MAY 24, 2010
‘AA’

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