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Jharkhand High Court · body

2009 DIGILAW 1407 (JHR)

Babita Orain v. National Insurance Co & Anr. Ltd

2009-11-09

JAYA ROY, M.Y.EQBAL

body2009
Judgment Jaya Roy, J.-We have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and with their consent this appeal is disposed of at the admission stage. 2. The claimants/appellants filed this appeal against the judgment dated 24.9.2008 passed by the Motor Vehicle Accident Tribunal, Lohardaga in Compensation Case No. 41 of 2007 whereby a sum of Rs. 2,04,000/- (two lakhs four thousand) alongwith interest at the rate of 6% per annum has been awarded for the death of Bharat Oraon in a motor vehicle accident. The case of the claimants .is that on 19.1.2007 at noon the deceased Bharat Oraon had come to Village Patratoli near Sanskrit School for working as a labourer and a truck having number BHD-1765 came rashly and negligently and crushed him as a result of which he died on the spot. Further case is that Bharat Oraon was 25 years old at time of the said accident and claimants are the widow, daughters and parents of the decesed. Bharat Oraon (the deceased) used to earn Rs.5,000/- per month and the offending truck was insured with the National Insurance Company Limited at the relevant time. Hence claimants are entitled to get a compensation amount 5,00,000/- (five lakhs) alongwith the interest thereon from the Insurance Company. 3. Mr. Prafush Kumar, appearing for the respondent no. 1 the National Insurance Company Limited has submitted that Arjun Bhagat the driver of the vehicle against whom the charge-sheet has been submitted is not impleaded as party and the owner of the offending vehicle has contravened the Insurance cover with regard to his offending vehicle and thus the Insurance Company is not liable to pay any compensation amount. 4. After considering the oral and. documentary evidence adduced by the party, I find that at the relevant time the deceased Bharat Oraon was at the place of occurrence and the offending truck bearing number BHD-1765 came rashly and negligently and crushed Bharat Oraon as result of which he died at the spot. From the evidence and post mortem report, I rind that the age of the deceased was 25 years at the time of occurrence. Furthermore, the insurance paper clearly shows that the aforesaid offending truck was insured with the National Insurance Company limited at the relevant time. 5. Now the question of amount of the compensation is to consider. According to the claimant, Bharat Oraon used to earn Rs. Furthermore, the insurance paper clearly shows that the aforesaid offending truck was insured with the National Insurance Company limited at the relevant time. 5. Now the question of amount of the compensation is to consider. According to the claimant, Bharat Oraon used to earn Rs. 5,000/- per month for loading and unloading the bricks on the truck. But they have not filed any document to prove the same. Even if I take the income of Bharat Oraon as Rs. 2,400/- per month, after deducting 1/3rd of the said amount (as the amount the deceased would have spent upon himself) then the compensation amount on the basis of the multiplier shall be 1600 x 12 x 17 comes to Rs. 3,26,400/- (Rupees three lakhs twenty six thousand and four hundred). 6. Therefore, in my view the just and proper compensation will be Rs. 3,27,000/- (three lakhs twenty seven thousand). Accordingly, the Respondent No.1 National Insurance Company is directed to pay the compensation of Rs. 3,27,000/- alongwith the interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of filing of the case, within two months from the date of this order. It is needless to say that the Insurance Company will pay the compensation amount after deducting the amount already paid to the appellants. 7. Accordingly, I modify the award as indicated above and this appeal is al. lowed.