High Court Kerala High Court

Reethamma Oommen vs P.T. George on 11 August, 2010

Kerala High Court
Reethamma Oommen vs P.T. George on 11 August, 2010
       

  

  

 
 
  IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

MACA.No. 2056 of 2005()


1. REETHAMMA OOMMEN,
                      ...  Petitioner
2. SAJI OOMMEN,
3. SALU OMMEN,
4. SHINY OOMMEN,

                        Vs



1. P.T. GEORGE, S/O. THOMAS,
                       ...       Respondent

2. MANAGING DIRECTOR,

3. THE BRANCH MANAGER,

                For Petitioner  :SRI.M.R.ARUN KUMAR

                For Respondent  :SRI.GEORGE CHERIAN (THIRUVALLA)

The Hon'ble MR. Justice A.K.BASHEER
The Hon'ble MR. Justice P.Q.BARKATH ALI

 Dated :11/08/2010

 O R D E R
               A.K.BASHEER & P.Q.BARKATH ALI, JJ.
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                          M.A.C.A.No.2056 OF 2005
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                    Dated this the 11th day of August, 2010

                                  JUDGMENT

Barkath Ali, J.

Appellants are the claimants in O.P.(MV)No.502/1997 on the file of

Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Alappuzha. Deceased first claimant

sustained injuries in a motor accident that occurred on November 13, 1995.

The accident happened while he was riding his scooter near S.N.College,

Cherthala, a car driven by the first respondent came and dashed against the

scooter. Alleging negligence against the first respondent, the driver of the

car, the deceased first claimant filed the O.P. before the Tribunal under

Section 166 of Motor Vehicles Act claiming compensation.

2. Respondents 1 and 2, the driver and the owner of the offending

car remained absent before the Tribunal. The third respondent, the insurer

of the offending car filed a written statement admitting the policy, but

contended that the accident occurred due to the negligence of the deceased

first claimant.

3. Exts.A1 to A10 series were marked on the side of the deceased

first claimant before the Tribunal. Exts.B1 and B2 were marked on the side

MACA.No.2056/2005 2

of the contesting third respondent. During the pendency of the petition, first

claimant died . Therefore, his legal heirs were impleaded as additional

claimants 2 to 5. The Tribunal on an appreciation of evidence found that

the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the offending

car by first respondent and awarded a compensation of Rs. 59,000/- with

interest @ 6% per annum from the date of petition till realisation and a cost

of Rs.2,000/-. The additional claimants have now come up in appeal

challenging the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal.

4. Heard the counsel for the appellants/claimants and the counsel

for the Insurance Company.

5. Taking into consideration the nature of the injury sustained by

deceased first claimant and the fact that he was aged 61 at the time of the

accident, we feel that the compensation awarded by the Tribunal is just and

reasonable. That being so, we find no merit in this appeal and the same has

to be dismissed.

In the result, the appeal is dismissed.

A.K.BASHEER, JUDGE

P.Q.BARKATH ALI, JUDGE
sv.

MACA.No.2056/2005 2

MACA.No.2056/2005 2