Research › Search › Judgment

Gujarat High Court · body

2018 DIGILAW 1215 (GUJ)

DEVPALSINH @ LALA DEVENDRASINH CHAUHAN v. SANDIPKUMAR RAMKISHORBHAI PATHAK (DELETED)

2018-10-25

S.G.SHAH

body2018
JUDGMENT : S.G. Shah, J. (Oral) - Heard learned advocate Mr.Hemal Shah for the appellant and learned advocate Mr.Dakshesh Mehta for the respondent no.3. Respondent no.2 though served , remain absent whereas respondent no.1 has been deleted. Perused the record as well as Record and proceedings. 2. The appellant herein victim of the road accident which took place on 10.05.2008 when claimant was serving as a cleaner with Truck No.GJ-1 AY-8816. Appellant was traveling as a cleaner in such truck being driven by the opponent no.1. However, because of rash and negligent driving of the opponent no.1 he lost control on steering because of full speed to avoid collusion from on coming truck the driver has taken turn but truck has turn turtle which resulted into multiple injuries on both legs for which operative treatment was provided but ultimately both legs were amputed below knee. The appellant - claimant was serving as a cleaner before such accident and was earning Rs. 4500/- per month for livelihood of his family and therefore, because of such injuries, he has claimed an amount of Rs. 15,00,000/- from owner and insurer of the offending truck. 3. By impugned award dated 07.08.2015 in M.A.C.P. No.944 of 2008, the tribunal has awarded an amount of Rs. 2,61,600/- with 7.5% interest to the appellant. Being aggrieved by such amount of compensation the appellant - claimant has preferred this appeal when none of the opponent had challenged the award, it becomes clear that there is no dispute regarding nature of incident, its result and liability of insurance company in making payment to the claimant so as to indemnify the owner of the vehicle and therefore, all such details are not material to be reproduced herein. 4. So far as quantum of compensation awarded to the present appellant is concerned, the tribunal has considered monthly income of the appellant is Rs. 3000/- per month and taken 30% disability for entire body and taking 17 as suitable multiplier, Rs. 1,83,600/-towards future loss of income. The tribunal has also awarded as follows: Pain, Shock and Suffering Rs. 50,000/- Medical Expenses Rs. 10,000/- Transportation and special diet and attendance charges Rs. 9000/- Actual loss of income Rs. 9000/- 5. 3000/- per month and taken 30% disability for entire body and taking 17 as suitable multiplier, Rs. 1,83,600/-towards future loss of income. The tribunal has also awarded as follows: Pain, Shock and Suffering Rs. 50,000/- Medical Expenses Rs. 10,000/- Transportation and special diet and attendance charges Rs. 9000/- Actual loss of income Rs. 9000/- 5. Thus, it is quite clear and certain that the tribunal has erred in not awarding just and reasonable compensation on different heads by not considering the prospective income, by reducing percentage of disability abruptly and by not awarding just and reasonable compensation for different conventional heads like pain, shock and suffering, amenities of life etc. Therefore, there is a reason to modify the award suitably. 6. Even if we may not disturb the presumption of the tribunal so far as monthly income is concerned, now it is well settled pursuant to decision of full bench of judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the case of National Insurance Company Limited v. Pranay Sethi and Others reported in (2017) 16 SCC 680 that tribunal shall consider prospective income of the claimant when they are young or atleast earning on the date of incident. Similarly considering the several other decisions, award for conventional heads should be just and reasonable rather than indicative when only Rs. 50,000/- is awarded for pain, shock and suffering though there is amputation of leg. Thereby, considering the actual income of the appellant as Rs. 3000/- per month only, though it is submitted that it should be Rs. 4500/- per month, as per the Pranay Sethi (Supra) there should be consideration of 40% prospective income. Thereby, average earning capacity of the claimant would be Rs. 4200/-. 7. Though doctor has certified disability for amputation of both the legs below knee and though tribunal has also considered 30% disablement considering the fact that when it is schedule injury even under the Employees (Workmen's) Compensation Act, 1923 wherein disability for amputation of such nature would be between 70% to 80% based upon actual amputation, therefore, though doctor has certified disablement at 30%, even if we may not considered it 100% for body as a whole because of amputation, there is no reason to consider it less than 100% being schedule injury. 8. Therefore, appellant is entitled to compensation under the future loss of income considering Rs. 8. Therefore, appellant is entitled to compensation under the future loss of income considering Rs. 4200/- as average monthly earning capacity and 100% disability which would result into Rs. 4200/- as monthly loss of earnings, thereby, applying 17 as suitable multiplier, total amount for loss of future income would come to Rs. 8,56,800/- (100% of Rs. 4200/- = Rs.4200/-, Rs. 4200/- X12X17) 9. Learned advocate for the appellant is relying upon the decision in the case of Jakir Hussein v. Sabir and others reported in (2015) 7 SCC 252 wherein Supreme Court has considered 100% loss of functional ability even in absence of physical disability and Rs. 4500/- as monthly income. However, it cannot be ignored that all such cases to be looked into with referrence to facts and circumstance of each case and therefore, so far as income and disability are concerned, it is to be considered based upon available evidence and as per the decision in particular case on such issue. 10. As against that, respondent - insurance company has supported award submitting that the Tribunal has awarded just and reasonable compensation. However, when insurance company is not challenging the award may be because of considering marginal difference in award. Thus, it is so argued by the learned advocate for the insurance company. 11. In above background, if we peruse the decision relied upon by the claimant, it becomes clear that in the case of Rekha Jain v. National Insurance Company reported in (2013) 8 SCC 389 of Supreme Court has even in the absence of evidence of income of model (actress) considered Rs. 5,00,000/- as yearly income of the victim, award of Rs. 10,00,000/- towards loss of future earning and total Rs. 79,66,000/-considering that disfigurement of face of celebrity would result into 100% disablement having regard to nature of vocation and functional disability sustained. However, while making calculation, Supreme Court has taken 50% of income only as a loss of future earning. 5,00,000/- as yearly income of the victim, award of Rs. 10,00,000/- towards loss of future earning and total Rs. 79,66,000/-considering that disfigurement of face of celebrity would result into 100% disablement having regard to nature of vocation and functional disability sustained. However, while making calculation, Supreme Court has taken 50% of income only as a loss of future earning. Supreme Court has also observed as under:- "It is well settled principle that in granting compensation for personal injury, the injured has to be compensated (1)for pain and suffering; (2) for loss of amenities; (3) shortened expectation of life, if any; (4) loss of earnings or loss of earning capacity or in some cases for both; and (5) medical treatment and other special damages in personal loss in addition to what is awarded by the tribunal and Supreme Court." 11.1 In Syed Sadiq v. Divisional Manager, United India Insurance Company reported in 2014 (2) SCC 735 , Supreme Court has held that claimant being vegetable vendors involved in unorganized sector doing his own business, were not expected to produce documents to prove their monthly income and that claimant might have to change his artificial leg from time to time and therefore, was entitle for medical cost and incidental expenses with future prospect of income. Thereby Apex Court has considered 85% disablement and increased 50% of income as a future prospects and awarded total Rs. 21,65,100/- by adding following amount of compensation in addition to what is awarded by the tribunal and High Court: Cost of artificial leg Rs. 50,000/- Pain and suffering Rs. 75,000/- Loss of marriage prospectus Rs. 50,000/- Loss of amenities: Rs. 75,000/- Medical and incidental cost Rs.1,00,000/- Cost of litigation Rs. 25,000/- 11.2 In Sanjay Kumar v. Ashok Kumar and others reported in 2014 (5) SCC 330 , Supreme Court has awarded Rs. 14,59,100/- for the amputation of right leg above knee considering 70% as loss of earning capacity. Wherein, now Apex Court has awarded Rs. 1,50,000/- for pain, shock and suffering in addition to Rs. 1,00,000/- for loss of amenities of life, Rs. 75,000/- for loss of expectation and Rs. 25,000/- for cost of litigation. 11.3 In K. Janardhan v. United India Insurance Co. Ltd. Anr. Wherein, now Apex Court has awarded Rs. 1,50,000/- for pain, shock and suffering in addition to Rs. 1,00,000/- for loss of amenities of life, Rs. 75,000/- for loss of expectation and Rs. 25,000/- for cost of litigation. 11.3 In K. Janardhan v. United India Insurance Co. Ltd. Anr. reported in 2008 (8) SCC 518 Supreme Court has considered that amputation of the right leg upto knee joint would result into 100% disability and thereby, restored the judgment and award of commissioner by setting aside the judgment of the High Court, reducing the compensation under Workmen's compensation Act, 1923. 11.4 In Mohan Soni v. Ram Avtar Tomar and others reported in 2012 (2) SCC 267 , Supreme Court has in case of amputation of leg below knee enhanced the amount of compensation awarded by the tribunal considering that earning capacity of the victim, may be as high as 100% but in no case, it would be less than 90%. 11.5 In Pratap Narain Singh DEO v. Srinivas Sabata and ANR. reported in AIR 1976 SC 222 , the four judges of Supreme Court has upheld the reason of the commissioner under Workmen's Compensation Act that by loss of left hand above the elbow would render victim unfit for the work of carpenter which cannot be done by one hand and thereby he was at 100% loss of earning capacity. 11.6 In R.D. Hattangadi v. Pest Control (India) Pvt. Ltd. And others reported in 1995 (1) SCC 551 , Supreme Court has awarded the amount of Rs. 35,00,000/- because of paraplegia below the waist suffered by claimant which is considered as 100% disability wherein Rs. 1,50,000/- was awarded for pain, shock and sufferings in addition to Rs. 1,50,000/- for loss of amenities of life. 12. In view of above facts and circumstances, there is need to modify the impugned award by awarding just and reasonable compensation. In view of above cited cases, which becomes a law of land, it cannot be said that claimant was earning from agriculture may not have better prospect and may not be entitled to better amenities in his life. Therefore, when tribunal has failed to consider appropriate income of the claimant and not awarded just and reasonable compensation on different heads, it would be appropriate to reconsider the quantum by taking Rs. 3000/- as earning at the time of incident and 40% as prospective income. Therefore, when tribunal has failed to consider appropriate income of the claimant and not awarded just and reasonable compensation on different heads, it would be appropriate to reconsider the quantum by taking Rs. 3000/- as earning at the time of incident and 40% as prospective income. So far as disability is concerned, though claimant has pleaded to consider it as 100% because of amputation, since claimant is enable to do some work by sitting on floor, let disability be considered as 100%, which would result into total compensation of Rs. 8,56,800/- for future loss of income. Thereby total amount would be Rs. 16,34,800/- as under:- Pain and suffering Rs.2,00,000/- Loss of amenities Rs.2,00,000/- Expectation of life Rs.1,50,000/- Medical Expenses Rs. 10,000/- Transportation, Special Diet, Attendance and attendant Rs. 9000/- Actual loss of Income Rs. 9000/- Artificial legs including future medical expenses but without further interest Rs.2,00,000/- Total compensation Rs.16,34,800/- 13. Thereby there would be additional award of Rs. 13,73,200/-. In view of the above discussion, the Appeal is partly needs to be allowed by awarding Rs. 13,73,200/-considering the case of Nagappa v. Gurudayal Singh reported in 2003 (2) SCC 274 . 14. In view of the above discussion, the appeal is partly allowed whereby impugned award is modified so as to confirm that claimant is entitled to an amount of Rs. 2.00. 000/- for future medical expenditure without interest and Rs. 11,73,200/- as compensation with 9% interest from the date of application for its payment from the opponents jointly and severally as per the award. However, if opponents have already deposited the amount of compensation as per award, then they are liable to pay additional amount of compensation only being Rs. 11,73,200/- with 9% interest and Rs. 2.00. 000/- without interest to the claimant. Such amount shall be paid in 12 weeks from the date of this judgment. Rest of the conditions of award shall remain unchanged. 15. R & P to be send back to the concerned trial Court.