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2021 DIGILAW 2545 (MAD)

Managing Director, Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation Limited, Kancheepuram v. Shanthi

2021-09-24

ABDUL QUDDHOSE

body2021
JUDGMENT : (Prayer: Civil Miscellaneous Appeal filed under Section 173 of Motor Vehicles Act against the Judgment and Decree dated 06.09.2019 made in MCOP.No.36 of 2013 on the file of the I Additional District Judge, Tindivanam.) 1. This civil miscellaneous appeal has been filed by the Transport Corporation challenging the award dated 06.04.2019 passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, I Additional District Judge, Tindivanam in MCOP.No.36 of 2013. Heard Mr.K.J.Sivakumar, learned counsel for the Appellant. Since no adverse orders are going to be passed against the respondents/claimants, notice to the respondents is dispensed with by this Court. The Appellant Transport Corporation has challenged the award only on the ground that the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal to the respondents/claimants is excessive. The respondents/claimants are the dependants of the deceased M.Sundaramurthy who died on 02.02.2009 as a result of an accident caused by a vehicle owned by the Appellant Transport Corporation. The respondents/claimants preferred a compensation claim before the Tribunal for the death of M.Sundaramurthy. The Tribunal under the impugned award directed the Appellant Transport Corporation to pay the respondents a compensation of Rs.23,13,128/- together with interest and costs as detailed hereunder: Heads Award Amount (Rs.) Loss of dependency 21,43,128/- Loss of love and affection 1,05,000/- Funeral Expenses 25,000/- Loss of consortium 40,000/- Total 23,13,128/- The deceased M.Sundaramurthy was a senior panman working at Shree Renuka Sugars Limited, Haldia, West Bengal and earning Rs.18,027/- per month. Before the Tribunal, the respondents/claimants have filed the salary certificate of the deceased which has been marked as Ex.P7. The Tribunal based on the salary certificate fixed the notional monthly income of the deceased at Rs.14,090/-. The accident happened in the year 2009. Since the salary certificate has been produced before the Tribunal, this Court does not find any infirmity in the assessment made by the Tribunal that the deceased was earning Rs.14,090/- per month at the time of the accident. 2. The Appellant/claimant unsatisfied with the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal has preferred this appeal seeking for enhancement. 3. The details of the compensation awarded by the Tribunal under the impugned award are as follows: Heads Award Amount (Rs.) Loss of income, Permanent Disability, loss of earning capacity permanently 2,80,800/- Medical expenses 1,635/- Transportation charges 2,000/- Extra nourishment 2,000/- Attender charges 2,000/- Loss of amenities 20,000/- Pain and suffering 20,000/- Total 3,28,435/- 4. 3. The details of the compensation awarded by the Tribunal under the impugned award are as follows: Heads Award Amount (Rs.) Loss of income, Permanent Disability, loss of earning capacity permanently 2,80,800/- Medical expenses 1,635/- Transportation charges 2,000/- Extra nourishment 2,000/- Attender charges 2,000/- Loss of amenities 20,000/- Pain and suffering 20,000/- Total 3,28,435/- 4. This Court by its earlier order dated 28.02.2020, directed the Appellant/claimant to appear before the Dean, Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital, Tiruvannamalai on or before 31.03.2020 for examination with regard to his disability as a result of the accident which happened on 03.03.2006 and a copy of the said order was also communicated to the Dean, Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital, Tiruvannamalai by the Registry of this Court. 5. The Dean, Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital, Tiruvannamalai has addressed a letter to the Registry of this Court stating that as per the order of this Court dated 28.02.2020, the Appellant/claimant has not appeared before him and asked the Appellant/claimant to appear before him for re-examination on 10.03.2020. Despite the same, the Appellant/claimant failed to appear before the Dean, Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital, Tiruvannamalai on the said date. 6. Once again by order dated 15.06.2021, one more opportunity was also granted to the Appellant/claimant to appear before the Dean, Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital, Tiruvannamalai on or before 01.07.2021 for examination and directed the Dean, Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital, Tiruvannamalai to examine the Appellant/claimant regarding the disability with reference to functional disability and submit the report on or before 30.07.2021 to this Court. Till date, the Appellant/claimant has not appeared for examination. 7. The learned counsel for the second respondent Insurance Company would submit that the Appellant is not entitled for any enhancement as he has not suffered any permanent disability and that is the reason, he has not appeared before the Medical Board for examination. According to her, the compensation awarded by the Tribunal is already excessive and there is no scope for any enhancement. 8. From the above, it is clear that the Appellant/claimant is not interested in examining himself before the Dean, Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital, Tiruvannamalai to enable him to get enhancement of compensation. It can be inferred from the conduct of the Appellant/claimant that he has not suffered any permanent disability and does not deserve any enhancement of compensation. 9. 8. From the above, it is clear that the Appellant/claimant is not interested in examining himself before the Dean, Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital, Tiruvannamalai to enable him to get enhancement of compensation. It can be inferred from the conduct of the Appellant/claimant that he has not suffered any permanent disability and does not deserve any enhancement of compensation. 9. For the foregoing reasons, this Court does not finds any merit in this appeal. Accordingly, this Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is dismissed. No costs. The second respondent Insurance Company is directed to deposit the entire award amount after deducting the amount already deposited if any, together with interest from the date of claim till the date of deposit and costs to the credit of MCOP.No.766 of 2006 within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this Judgment. On such deposit being made, the Tribunal shall transfer the amount lying to the credit of MCOP.No.766 of 2006 to the bank account of the first respondent through RTGS within a period of one week thereafter.