Ram Kiran Goyal (D)
Thr. Lrs. Vs. Sub Divisional Engineer & Ors.
(Civil Appeal
No.10512 of 2011 Arising out of S.L.P. (C) No.12045 of 2009)
Judgment
AFTAB ALAM J.
1.
Delay
condoned
2.
Leave
granted
3.
The
original appellant, Ram Kiran Goyal @ Ram Karan, who had gone to the Motor Accident
Claims Tribunal, claiming compensation for the injuries suffered by him in a
motor accident, is no more. He died during the pendency of the appeal and was
substituted by his legal representatives, who now pursue the claim.
4.
On
December 14, 1987, Ram Karan was travelling in a Maruti car on way from Delhi to
Jaipur. At about 9.30 in the morning, near village Assalwas on Highway No. 8, a
truck going ahead of the car suddenly took a right turn without giving any
indication and as a result the car had a head-on collision with the larger vehicle.
In the accident, Ram Karan and the other occupants of the car (that included
his brother, a third person and a fourth person who was driving the car) received
grievous injuries. Ram Karan received injuries mainly in his legs and head. He
also got a number of teeth broken that had to be extracted. He remained under
treatment in a hospital as an indoor patient for three months. At the time of the
accident he was 42 years old.
5.
Ram
Karan made an application (M.A.C.T. Petition No. 17/1988/1990) before the Motor
Accident Claim Tribunal, Rewari, claiming rupees six lakhs as compensation. It was
stated before the Tribunal that, as a result of the injuries suffered by him in
the accident, he remained under treatment for a long time and had spent more
than rupees one lakh on his treatment.
He further pleaded
that in the accident he lost all his teeth and due to the injuries suffered in
the accident he could not stand or walk properly and he could only walk with
the help of crutches. As a result, he was unable to perform the normal chores and
the work that he used to do earlier.
6.
The
Tribunal, by its judgment and order dated April 18, 1991 found and held that
the accident took place because of the rash and negligent driving of the truck
driver, who took a right turn without giving any signal, knowing fully well
that National Highway No. 8 is a busy road frequented by heavy vehicular traffic.
In granting compensation to the claimant, however, the Tribunal was rather tight
fisted and awarded to him a lump sum amount of Rs. 50,000/-, with simple
interest at the rate of 12% per annum. The amount was fixed without any
reference to the well established heads under which compensation is to be
awarded in a case of death or injuries caused in a motor accident.
7.
Against
the order of the Tribunal, Ram Karan, preferred appeal (First Appeal from order
No. 1184/1991) before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A learned single judge
of the High Court allowed the appeal, enhancing the total compensation amount to
Rs. 1 lakh with interest at the rate of 12% per annum from the date of the
filing of the claim petition.
The single judge held
the claimant entitled to compensation of Rs. 50,000/- for his disability, Rs.
25,000/- for the pain and agony suffered by him and Rs. 10,000/- for future
loss of income. In addition, the learned single judge awarded the claimant Rs. 15,000/-
towards medicines and medical treatment. For fixing the compensation towards medical
treatment, the single judge took into account some of the vouchers that were
produced by the claimant.
8.
In
further appeal (L.P.A. No. 1149/2001) a division bench of the High Court increased
the disability compensation from Rs. 50,000/- to Rs.1,10,000/- and directed
that the additional sum of rupees sixty thousand would carry interest @ 9% per
annum from the date of filing of the claim petition. The compensation awarded by
the single judge under the other heads was left undisturbed by the division
bench.
9.
The
claimant, still not satisfied, brought the matter before this Court.
10.
On
hearing counsel for the parties, we are satisfied that the division bench of
the high court rightly determined the disability compensation payable to the
appellant, having regard to the fact that the disability suffered by the
appellant was medically assessed at 55%. We, however, find that the claimant was
not properly compensated for expenses related to treatment, hospitalization and
medicines etc.
11.
In
a recent decision in Raj Kumar v. Ajay Kumar, (2011) 1 SCC 343, this Court has considered
in detail the different heads under which compensation might be payable to a
victim of motor accidents. In paragraph 6 of the decision, the various elements
of compensation are enumerated as under - "Pecuniary damages (Special
damages)
i.
Expenses
relating to treatment, hospitalization, medicines, transportation, nourishing
food and miscellaneous expenditure.
ii.
Loss
of earnings (and other gains) which the injured would have made had he not been
injured, comprising:
a. Loss of earning
during the period of treatment;
b. Loss of future
earnings on account of permanent disability.
i.
ii.
iii.
Future
medical expenses. Non-pecuniary damages (General damages)
iv.
Damages
for pain, suffering and trauma as a consequence of the injuries.
v.
Loss
of amenities (and/or loss of prospects of marriage). (vi) Loss of expectation
of life (shortening of normal longevity)" (emphasis added)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
To
us it appears that the claimant was not properly compensated under heads I and
III. As noted above, the appellant remained in hospital for 3 months for his
treatment. He lost all his teeth and even after coming out of the hospital he had
to use crutches for walking and even standing. A sum of Rs. 15,000/- for treatment
of such injuries appears to us to be wholly inadequate in the year 1987.
Moreover, the nature of
the injuries suffered by the claimant was such that he never fully got over the
same and continued to be under medical treatment till the end of his life.
Materials have been brought before this Court to show that he was obliged to undergo
medical treatment all his life and with age the extent of his disability,
resulting from the accident, also continued to progress.
13.
In
the facts and circumstances of the case, we feel that an additional sum of Rs. 1,10,000/-
must be paid to the appellants to adequately and properly compensate them under
the heads
(i) `expenses relating
to treatment, hospitalization, medicines, transportation, nourishing food and miscellaneous
expenditure' and (ii) `future medical expenses'. We order accordingly.
14.
The
additional amount shall carry simple interest @ 7% per annum from the date of
application.
15.
It
needs to be stated here that we have fixed the aforesaid amount on a conservative
estimate using our best judgment. Nonetheless, the determination has inevitably
some indeterminate elements. It will be, therefore, of no use to try to see any
precedent value in this order.
16.
In
the result the appeal is allowed to the limited extent as indicated above. The
additional amount of compensation along with interest should be paid to the appellants
within three months from today.
................................................J.
(Aftab Alam)
................................................J.
(Ranjana Prakash Desai)
New
Delhi,
December
5, 2011
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