IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 12.11.2008
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.SUDHAKAR
C.M.A.No.3518 of 2008
and
M.P.No.1 of 2008
The Managing Director,
Tamil Nadu State Transport
Corporation Limited,
Kumbakonam Town,
Kumbakonam. ... Appellant/Respondent
vs.
1.M.Indirani,
2.Minor M.Hemaraj,
3.Minor M.Logaraj,
4.T.Aburvam.
(Minor respondents 2 and 3
are represented by mother
and next friend and natural
guardian the first respondent) ... Respondents/Petitioners
Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is filed under Section 173 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 against the award and decree dated 22.2.2008 passed in M.C.O.P.No.3898 of 2006 on the file of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (Chief Judge, Court of Small Causes), Chennai.
For appellant : Mr.N.Anand
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JUDGMENT
Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation is on appeal challenging the award dated 22.2.2008 passed in M.C.O.P.No.3898 of 2006 on the file of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (Chief Judge, Court of Small Causes), Chennai.
2. At the time of admission of the appeal, the only contention raised by the counsel for the appellant is on the quantum of compensation.
3. The finding of negligence on the part of the driver of the appellant’s transport corporation bus and the liability fixed on the appellant transport corporation to compensate the claimants is not seriously disputed by the counsel for the appellant and the same is confirmed.
4. It is a case of fatal accident. The brief facts of the case is as follows:- The accident in this case happened on 17.5.2005 at 10.00 a.m. on Poombugar Road, near Uzavar market, Myladurai. The deceased Muthalagan, aged 39 years, working as Head Constable (HC 940) at Nannilam Police Station, Thiruvarur District, was riding a motorcycle. At that time, the appellant transport corporation bus said to be driven in a rash and negligent manner by its driver hit the motorcycle. In that accident, the said Muthalagn suffered grievous injuries. He died on the way to hospital. At the time of his death, it was stated that the deceased was earning Rs.8,000/- per month. The wife aged 37 years, two minor sons aged 16 years and 14 years respectively and the mother aged 70 years filed a claim for compensation in a sum of Rs.10 lakhs.
5. In support of the claim, the wife of the deceased was examined as P.W.1. One Karthi, the eye witness, was examined as P.W.2. The claimants marked Exs.P-1 to P-10, the details of which are as follows:-
Ex.P-1 is the legal heir certificate,
Ex.P-2 is the certificate of work issued by the Inspector of Police, Kodambakkam Law and Order,
Ex.P-3 is the age proof of deceased,
Ex.P-4 is the pay slip of the deceased,
Ex.P-5 is the death certificate of the deceased,
Ex.P-6 is the birth certificate of the second claimant,
Ex.P-7 is the birth certificate of the third claimant,
Ex.P-8 is the copy of F.I.R.,
Ex.P-9 is the copy of post-mortem report and
Ex.P-10 is the identity card of P.W.2.
No oral or documentary evidence was let in on behalf of the appellant transport corporation, the respondent before the Tribunal.
6. In so far as the compensation, this issue was dealt with by the Tribunal in paragraph 6 of the award in answer to point Nos.3 and 4. Based on the age proof Ex.P-3 and the post-mortem certificate Ex.P-9, the age of the deceased was taken as 39 years and there is no dispute on this. As far as income of the deceased is concerned, the document Ex.P-4 shows that the gross salary of the deceased was Rs.7,394/- on the date of accident. Considering the long years of service and the future prospects, the income of the deceased was fixed at Rs.9,000/- per month and Rs.1,08,000/- per annum, of which 1/3 was deducted towards personal expenses of the deceased and the pecuniary loss to the dependents was fixed at Rs.72,000/- per annum. The Tribunal as per second schedule to the Motor Vehicles Act adopted 13 multiplier and fixed a sum of Rs.9,36,000/- towards loss of pecuniary benefits to the family of the deceased. The Tribunal also granted compensation under conventional heads. In all, the Tribunal granted the following amounts as compensation with interest at 7.5%:-
Sl.No.
Head
Amount granted by the Tribunal
1
Loss of pecuniary benefits to the dependents
Rs.9,36,000/-
2
Loss of consortium to the wife on the death of her husband
Rs. 15,000/-
3
Loss of love and affection to the two minor children on the death of their father (Rs.10,000/- each)
Rs. 20,000/-
4 Loss of love and affection to the aged mother on the death of her son Rs. 5,000/- 5 Transport to hospital and funeral expenses Rs. 4,000/- Total Rs.9,80,000/-
7. Learned counsel for the appellant pleaded that the income of the deceased fixed as Rs.9,000/- per month is on the higher side and therefore, the compensation should be reduced based on the actual income of the deceased on the date of death.
8. This Court is not inclined to accept the contention of the appellant’s counsel for the following reasons:-
(i) The deceased at the time of his death was 39 years. He was a Head Constable and he had nearly 19 years of service. The wife, two minor children and the mother of the deceased are the dependents. The Tribunal has reasonably fixed the income of the deceased at Rs.9,000/- per month based on future prospects.
(ii) In any event as against 16 multiplier, as per second schedule to the Motor Vehicles Act, the Tribunal adopted only 13 multiplier.
(iii) Therefore, the question of further reduction in the compensation does not arise. This Court is unable to find any good reason to reduce the quantum of compensation any further as also the interest granted at 7.5% as the accident in this case happened in the year 2005 and the award was passed in the year 2008.
9. Finding no merit, the Civil Miscellaneous appeal is dismissed at the admission stage. Counsel for the appellant transport corporation prays eight weeks’ time to deposit the award amount and is granted. On such deposit claimants are entitled to withdraw the same as per order of the Tribunal. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
ts
To
1.The Registrar,
Court of Small Causes,
(Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal),
Chennai