Research › Search › Judgment

Karnataka High Court · body

2017 DIGILAW 99 (KAR)

N. v. Mallesh VS KSRTC Central Office

2017-01-11

ABDUL NAZEER, K.S.MUDAGAL

body2017
JUDGMENT : S. Abdul Nazeer, J. In this appeal filed under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1989, the appellant has challenged the judgment and award in MVC No. 704/2014 dated 30.6.2015 on the file of the Principal Senior Civil Judge and Additional MACT at Hassan (for short 'the Tribunal') whereby the Tribunal has awarded a total compensation of Rs. 4,49,000 with interest at 6% per annum from the date of the petition till the date of deposit. The appellant has filed this appeal seeking enhancement of compensation. 2. The claim petition was filed by the appellant before the Tribunal seeking compensation or Rs. 25 lakh with interest at 18% per annum for the a injuries sustained by him in a road traffic accident occurred on 21.8.2013. 3. Learned Counsel for the appellant submits that the appellant had suffered grievous injuries in the accident. The Doctor, who was examined as P.W.2 has assessed disability at 22% to the left lower limb and 46% to the right lower limb. The Doctor has given the opinion on the basis of the medical records. However, the Tribunal has taken his permanent disability to the whole body at the rate of 15%. The Tribunal has not taken the disability of the appellant to the left lower limb. It is further submitted that the appellant was hospitalized for 48 days in Janapriya Orthopaedic and Accident Care Centre, Hassan and for 14 days in Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Mangaluru. He has spent a sum of Rs. 3,44,473 towards medical expenses. All these medical expenses are supported by the bills. However, the Tribunal has awarded only a sum of Rs. 2,75,000 towards medical expenses. Having regard to the nature of injuries sustained by him,the Tribunal ought to have awarded at least a sum of Rs. 1 lakh towards pain and suffering. The award of compensation towards conveyance and nourishment is also on a lower side. The award of compensation towards future medical expenses is again on a lower side. The Tribunal has only taken Rs. 5,000 per month towards his monthly earning for the purpose of d computation of loss of future earning capacity. The claimant was an agriculturist. He was earning more than Rs. 40,000 per month. 4. On the other hand, learned Counsel appearing for the respondent-Corporation has sought to justify the impugned judgment and award. The Tribunal has only taken Rs. 5,000 per month towards his monthly earning for the purpose of d computation of loss of future earning capacity. The claimant was an agriculturist. He was earning more than Rs. 40,000 per month. 4. On the other hand, learned Counsel appearing for the respondent-Corporation has sought to justify the impugned judgment and award. It is argued that the Tribunal has rightly taken the permanent disability at 15% to the whole body. The medical expenses awarded is on the basis of the bills. It is further submitted that the appellant has not produced any materials in order to support his contention that he was earning Rs. 40,000 per month. Therefore, the Tribunal has notionally fixed his income at Rs. 5,000 per month. 5. There is no dispute as to the occurrence of the accident and the liability of the respondent-Corporation for payment of compensation. 6. Having regard to the contentions urged, the only question for consideration is whether the compensation awarded by the Tribunal is just and proper? 7. In the motor vehicle accident occurred on 21.8.2013, the claimant had sustained grievous injuries. The wound certificate at Ex. P7 discloses that the appellant had sustained the following injuries: "1. Sever soft tissue loss right knee. 2. Type IIIC open fracture right femur, with commutation. 3. Fracture medial condyle right tibia. 4. Type IIIC open fracture right tibia and fibula with bone loss and soft tissue loss. 5. Fracture medial malleolus right. 6. Fracture fibula head left." 8. Dr. Abdul Basheer, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Janapriya Orthopaedic and Accident Care Centre, Hassan, was examined as P.W.2. He' had treated the claimant. He has deposed that the appellant had sustained 22% permanent a disability to the left lower limb and 46% permanent disability to the right: lower limb. The case sheet, 7 x-rays and MLC extracts have been marked in his evidence. Though he was cross-examined at length, nothing worthwhile has been elicited to discredit his version. It is also evident that the claimant was admitted in Janapriya Orthopaedic and Accident Care Centre, Hassan for 48 days. He was again admitted to Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Mangaluru on 2.8.2014 and discharged on 16.8.2014 The Tribunal has assessed the permanent disability to the whole body at 15% without taking into account the disability sustained by the appellant to the left lower limb. He was again admitted to Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Mangaluru on 2.8.2014 and discharged on 16.8.2014 The Tribunal has assessed the permanent disability to the whole body at 15% without taking into account the disability sustained by the appellant to the left lower limb. In our opinion, it is just and proper to assess the permanent disability to the whole body of the appellant at 22%. 9. Though the claimant contends that he was earning Rs. 40,000 per c month, no materials have been produced in support of the said contention. The accident had occurred on 21.8.2013. Therefore, it is just and proper to notionally fix his income at Rs. 8,000 per month. The appellant is aged about 55 years, which is clear from the wound certificate at Ex. P7. The multiplier applicable to the case is 11. By taking the income of the appellant at Rs. 8,000 per month with the application of multiplier 11 and 22% permanent disability to the who. 'ie j body, the compensation payable towards loss of future earning capacity comes to Rs. 2,32,320. 10. The medical records produced by the claimant would clearly show that he has spent Rs. 3,44,473 towards medical expenses. The Tribunal has only awarded a sum of Rs. 2,75,000 We are of the view that it is just and p roper to award a sum of Rs. 3,44,473 towards medical expenses. The Doctor has stated e in his evidence that the claimant requires Rs. 40,000 towards future medical expenses. Having perused the entire evidence on record, we are of the view that it is just and proper to award a sum of Rs. 25,000 towards future medical expenses. We are also of the view that having regard to the injuries and sufferings sustained by the claimant, it is just and proper to award a sum of Rs. 50,000 towards pain and suffering and a sum of Rs. 48,000 (Rs. 8,000 x 6) towards loss of earning during the period of treatment. As stated above, the claimant was admitted to the hospital for 62 days. Therefore, it is just and proper to award a sum of Rs. 50,000 towards conveyance, nourishment and attendant charges. Thus, the compensation payable to the claimant is reassessed as under: SI . No. Particulars Amount 1. Towards loss of future income Rs . 2,32,320.00 2. Towards pain and sufferings Rs . 50,000.00 3. Therefore, it is just and proper to award a sum of Rs. 50,000 towards conveyance, nourishment and attendant charges. Thus, the compensation payable to the claimant is reassessed as under: SI . No. Particulars Amount 1. Towards loss of future income Rs . 2,32,320.00 2. Towards pain and sufferings Rs . 50,000.00 3. Towards loss of amenities and enjoyment in life Rs . 25,000.00 4. Towards loss of income during the treatment period Rs . 48,000.00 5. Towards conveyance, nourishment and attendant charges Rs50,000.00 6. Towards medical expenses Rs . 3,44,473.00 7. Towards future medical expenses Rs . 25,000.00 Total Rs . 7,74,793.00 11. The Tribunal has awarded a sum of Rs. 4,49,000, which has to be deducted from the aforesaid amount and the balance of compensation playable to the claimant is Rs. 3,25,793. The said sum of Rs. 3,25,793 shall carry interest at 6% per annum. 12. In the result, the appeal succeeds and it is accordingly allowed The respondent - Corporation is directed to deposit a sum of Rs. 3,25,793 with interest at 6% per annum from the date of the application till the date of deposit in addition to what has been awarded by the Tribunal within a period of eight, weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The appellant is permit tea to withdraw the amount on such deposit. No costs.