IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 15.12. 2008
CORAM:-
The Hon'ble Mr. Justice R. SUDHAKAR
C.M.A.No.735 of 2007
and
M.P.No. 1 of 2007
United India Insurance Co. Ltd.,
Branch office,Post Box No.24,
I floor, Bagalur Mansion,
Dodda pet,Kolar 563 101 .. Appellant
Vs.
1. Rajammal
2. M.Balan
3. Vino (Minor)
4. Snehalatha (Minor)
5. Sendhamarai (Minor)
6. Kunjipillai
Minors 3 to 5 rep. By their
mother and NF 1st respondent.
7. K.Minuswamy( set exparte before lower Court) .. Respondents
. . .
Appeal filed under Section 173 of the M.V.Act against the award and decree dated 20.09.2006 made in M.C.O.P No.437 of 2003 on the file of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal,(Additional Special Court ), Krishnagiri.
. . .
For Appellant : Mr.M.B.Gopalan
For respondents : Mr. P.Mani (R1 to R6)
R.7 ex parte.
. . .
J U D G M E N T
The Insurance Company has filed this appeal challenging the award dated 20.09.2006 made in M.C.O.P No.437 of 2003 on the file of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal,(Additional Special Court ), Krishnagiri.
2. It is a case of fatal accident. The accident in this case happened on 13.09.2002. The deceased Madhu, aged 36 years, engaged in cutting of boulder stones was travelling on a Motor Cycle from Unthanapalli gate to Narasapurm. When he was nearing Narasapuram, a Taxi bearing registration No.K.A.-07-3477 driven in a rash and negligent manner by its driver came and hit the said Madhu. He suffered grievous injuries and died. On the death of the said Madhu, the wife aged 34 years, son aged 18 years, minor daughters aged 15, 14 and 10 years filed a claim for compensation in a sum of Rs.7,00,000/- stating that the income of the deceased Madhu was Rs.4,500/- per month.
3. In support of the claim, the wife of the deceased was examined as P.W.1 and one Raja, eye witness was examined as P.W.2 and one another Raja son of Rajappa was examined as P.W.3. Documents were marked as Exs.P.1 to P.6. Ex.P.1 is the First Information Report. Ex.P.2 is the Post mortem Certificate. Ex.P.3 is the Death Certificate. Ex.P.4 is the Policy. Ex.P.5 is the Legal Heir Certificate. Ex.P.6 is the medical history sheet. On the side of the appellant/respondent before the Tribunal, no oral or documentary evidence was let in.
4. The finding of negligence on the part of the driver of the taxi which caused the accident and the liability fixed on the appellant Insurance Company to compensate the claimants is not disputed by the counsel for the appellant and as such, the same is confirmed.
5. The Tribunal decided the issue on compensation in answer to Point No.2 and granted Rs.4,39,200/- with interest at the rate of 7.5% in the following manner:
Sl.N0.
Head
Amount granted by
the Tribunal
1
Loss of pecuniary benefits
Rs. 3,84,000/-
2
Loss of consortium
Rs. 10,000/-
2
Loss of love and affection to 2 to 6 claimants
Rs. 25,000/-
3.
Medical expenses, transport expenses & attendant
charges
Rs. 10,000/-
4.
Funeral expenses &damage to clothing
Rs 10,200/-
Total
Rs 4,39,200/-
6. In the appeal, the only contention raised by the counsel for the appellant is on the quantum of compensation . Learned counsel for the appellant pointed out that in the order of the Tribunal, there is no discussion whatsover with regard to the quantum of compensation determined. Further the order of the Tribunal does not contain any reason as to how the said amount of Rs.3,84,000/- is arrived. The compensation has been fixed without any basis and without giving any reason. Therefore, it is arbitrary and capricious. Other amounts granted by the Tribunal are not seriously disputed by the counsel for the appellant. Learned counsel for the respondent/claimant stated that the award is just and reasonable and need not be interfered with.
7. The order of the Tribunal sans reason has to be interfered. On a reading of the award of the Tribunal, it is seen that the amounts are granted by the Tribunal without any reason or basis. There is no proper discussion as to how the quantum of compensation has been arrived. Considering the age of the deceased, a stone cutter, said to be around 36 to40 years old, the income of the deceased can be fixed as Rs.3,000/- per month. After deducting 1/3 towards the personal expenses of the deceased, the contribution to the dependants will be Rs.24,000/- (i.e Rs.3,000-Rs.1,000=Rs.2000 X 12 = Rs.24,000/-) The age of the deceased according to the claim petition, was 36 years, and as per the Post mortem Certificate, 33 years and as per the legal heir certificate, 40 years. When compared to the age of the wife of the deceased, the age of the deceased should be taken somewhere between 40 to 42. However, in view of the different age given in different places, it is proper to take an average of all. The multiplier will, therefore, be 14. Therefore, the pecuniary loss will be Rs.3,36,000/- (Rs. 24,000 X 14=Rs.3,36,000/-)Amounts granted on other heads, like medical expenses, attendant charges and transport expenses, funeral expenses and damage to clothing, are not seriously disputed and therefore, they are not disturbed. Towards loss of consortium, the wife is entitled to a further sum of Rs.5,000/- (i.e.Rs.10,000-/- granted by the Tribunal + Rs.5,000/- = Rs.15,000/-) In the same way, for loss of love and affection for four minor children each on the death of their father will be entitled to Rs.7,500/- each totally Rs.30,000/- Mother of the deceased will be entitled to Rs.5,000/- for loss of love and affection. The award of the Tribunal is modified in the following manner:
Sl.N0.
Head
Amount granted by
the Tribunal
Amount granted by
this court
1
Pecuniary loss
Rs. 3,84,000/-
Rs. 3,36,000/-
2 Loss of consortium Rs 10,000/- Rs. 15,000/- 3 Loss of love and affection for 2 to 5 claimants Rs. 20,000/- Rs. 30,000/- 4 Loss of love and affection to mother Rs. 5,000/- Rs. 5,000/- 5. Medical expenses, transport expenses & attendant charges Rs. 10,000/- Rs. 10,000/- 6. Funeral expenses & damage to clothing Rs.10,200/- Rs. 10,200/- Total Rs.4,39,200/- Rs 4,06,200/-
The interest granted by the Tribunal at the rate of 7.5% p.a stands confirmed as the accident in this case happened in the year 2002 and the award was passed in the year 2006.
8. In the result, the Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is allowed in part as follows:
i. The award of the Tribunal is reduced to Rs.4,06,200/- from Rs.4,39,200/-.
ii) The interest granted by the Tribunal at 7.5 % stands confirmed.
iii) Learned counsel for the appellant seeks eight weeks’ time to deposit over and above the amount already in deposit and is granted. The Claimants are entitled to withdraw the amount in the following apportionment.
Wife, the first respondent
Rs.1,00,000/- with proportionate interest and entire costs.
For three minor children and one major child, each Rs.75,000/-
Rs.3,00,000/- with proportionate interest
The mother, sixth respondent
Rs.6,200/- with proportionate interest.
iv) The wife, first respondent is permitted to withdraw her share amount with proportionate interest and costs.
v) The mother,6th respondent is permitted to withdraw her share amount with proportionate interest.
vi) The second respondent/second claimant is permitted to withdraw his share amount with proportionate interest.
vii) The share of the minor respondents 3 to 5 respondents/claimants shall be invested in any one of the Nationalised Bank proximate to the place of the resident of the first respondent/first claimant for a period of three years and renewable thereafter till the minors attain majority. The mother of the minor respondents 3 to 5, is permitted to withdraw the accrued interest in respect of the share of the minors once in three months directly from the bank and for the said purpose the first respondent shall open a Savings Bank Account on the same branch and the interest amount shall be transferred to that account to be maintained by the mother of the minor claimants.
Viii) The Nationalised Bank to which the amount will be deposited, shall intimate to the first respondent, of such deposit and confirm the same to the Tribunal that the first respondent has been duly informed. The Tribunal to instruct the Bank accordingly.
ix) Since the deposit is in the case of minors, the Tribunal is directed to send a report containing the details of the deposit to the High Court on such deposit.
x) There will be no order as to costs.
xi) Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
PAL
To
The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal,
Additional Special Court,,
Krishnagiri