Vigneshwaran v. K.T. Benny

JUDGMENT The appellant is the claimant in M.C.O.P.No.1804 of 2016 on the file of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Tiruppur, and he filed the said claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, seeking compensation of Rs.20,00,000/- for the injuries sustained by him, in a road accident that took place on 14.05.2016.

¶2The brief case of the appellant/claimant is as follows:

2.1. On 14.05.2016, at about 2.00 hours, the appellant/claimant was travelling in a Chevorlet car bearing Registration No.TN 39 BM 3693 on Coimbatore - Palakad Main Road. When he was nearing Vallaiyar Check Post, a speeding bus bearing Registration No.KL 64 B 3232, belonging to the second respondent and driven by the first respondent, hit the car in which the claimant was travelling, as a result of which, he sustained injuries on his left forearm and abrasions all over his body. He was immediately rushed to the Management Samithi District Hospital and after getting first Aid, he got himself admitted in L.G. Medical Centre, Tiruppur, as an inpatient from 18.05.2016 to 22.05.2016.

2.2. According to the claimant, the rash and negligent driving of the driver of the bus bearing Registration No.KL 64 B 3232 was the cause of the accident and that since the said vehicle was insured with the third respondent, the National Insurance Company Limited, Coimbatore, the owner and the insurer are jointly and severally liable to pay compensation to him.

¶3In the Tribunal, the first and second respondents (driver and the owner of the offending vehicle) remained absent and were set ex parte. The third respondent resisted the claim petition on all the grounds available to the insurer under Section 170 of the Motor Vehicles Act.

¶4The Tribunal after analysing the evidence on record, held that the owner and the insurer of the vehicle are jointly and severally liable to pay compensation of Rs.1,45,000/- together with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum to the appellant/claimant from the date of the petition till the date of realisation.

¶5Aggrieved over the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal, the appellant/claimant has filed the present appeal under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

¶6Heard Mr.Ma.P. Thangavel, learned counsel for the appellant and Mrs. N.B. Surekha, learned counsel for the third respondent.

¶7Mr.Ma.P. Thangavel, learned counsel for the appellant contended that though the Medical Board assessed the Partial Permanent Disability of the claimant as 45%, the Tribunal had reduced it to 5% without any basis and therefore, the amount under the head of 'Partial Permanent Disability' should be enhanced. His further contention is that the claimant was working as a Heavy duty Motor vehicle driver and was earning Rs.20,000/- per month, but the Tribunal fixed his notional monthly income as Rs.10,000/-, which is on the lower side. He also contended that the Tribunal had refused to accept the medical bills amounting to Rs.70,812/- on the ground that the father's name of the claimant was wrongly indicated in the same. According to him, the Tribunal had awarded meagre amounts under the other heads and therefore sought for enhancement of compensation.

¶8Per contra, Mrs.N.B. Surekha, learned counsel appearing for the third respondent/Insurance Company contended that the Medical Board had not issued the disability certificate as per the guidelines of the Government of India and in compliance of the directions of this Court in Arockiadoss vs. Syed Ibrahim 2. United India Insurance reported in 2022 (2) TN MAC 229. The Tribunal had infact summoned the doctor and examined him and considering his evidence and the extract of the Register maintained by the Medical Board (Ex.C1), rightly assessed the partial permanent disability as 5% and therefore, there is no reason for this Court to enhance it to 50%. Her another contention is that the Tribunal had properly analysed the evidence on record and had granted just compensation and therefore the same need not be disturbed.

¶9A perusal of the Disability Certificate shows that it has not been issued as per the guidelines of the Government of India and complying with the directions of this Court in Arockiadoss vs. Syed Ibrahim 2. United India Insurance (cited supra). The doctor who issued the Disability Certificate was examined as P.W.2 before the Tribunal. He produced the extract of the Register maintained by the Medical Board and the same was marked as Ex.C1. In Ex.C1, the Partial Permanent Disability was shown as 5%. However in the last line it was mentioned as "Ortho 5%, Neuro 45%, Total 50%". The Medical Board did not mention that various tests conducted by them to show that neurological disability is 45%. Moreover, the discharge summary (Ex.P3) shows that the claimant had taken treatment only for comminuted fracture and not for any neurological problem. The neurological disability seems to have been added subsequently without any basis. Therefore, the percentage of disability fixed by the Tribunal at 5% is perfectly in order.

9.1. The Tribunal did not add the medical bills amounting to Rs.70,812/- on the ground that the father's name of the claimant was wrongly indicated. A perusal of the Discharge summary (Ex.P3) shows that an operation was performed in L.G Hospital and the claimant was treated as an inpatient for four days. In the circumstances the medical bills adduced by the claimant has to be taken into consideration while computing the compensation payable to him. The ground that father's name does not match is not acceptable. Accordingly, as per the medical bills, a sum of Rs.70,812/- has to be added.

9.2. According to the claimant he is a Heavy duty Motor vehicle driver earning a sum of Rs.20,000/- per month. However, he did not adduce any documentary evidence to show that he was actually earning a sum of Rs.20,000/- per month. In the circumstances, the notional income of the claimant can be fixed as Rs.12,000/- per month. Since he suffered comminuted fracture in his left fore arm, he would have been out of action for atleast four months and therefore, awarding a sum of Rs.48,000/- (12,000 x 4) towards loss of income for four months to the claimant would meet the ends of justice. The following tabular column would show the amount awarded by the Tribunal and the enhanced amount awarded by this Court under various heads. S.No Heads Amount awarded by Tribunal

(Rs) Amount awarded by this Court

(Rs)

¶1Loss of income 30,000/- (Rs.10,000/- x 3 months 48,000/- (Rs.12,000/- x 4 months) S.No Heads Amount awarded by Tribunal

(Rs) Amount awarded by this Court

(Rs)

¶2Partial Permanent Disability 25,000/-25,000/-

¶3Transportation 10,000/-10,000/-

¶4Extra nourishment 15,000/-20,000/-

¶5Attender's charges 10,000/-10,000/-

¶6Damage to clothes 5,000/-5,000/-

¶7Pain and sufferings 50,000/-75,000/-

¶8Medical Expenses -70,812/-TOTAL 1,45,000/-2,63,812/-

¶10Thus, the compensation awarded by the Tribunal is enhanced from Rs.1,45,000/- to Rs.2,63,812/- which would carry interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum.

¶11In the result,

(i) The Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is partly allowed. No costs.

(ii) The compensation awarded by the Tribunal is enhanced from Rs.1,45,000/- to Rs.2,63,812/-.

(iii) The appellant / claimant is directed to pay the court fee for the enhanced compensation amount, if any, and the Registry is directed to draft the decree only after the receipt of Court fee.

(iv) The third respondent, the National Insurance Company Limited, Coimbatore, is directed to deposit the enhanced compensation amount i.e., Rs.2,63,812/- (less the amount already deposited) together with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of claim petition till the date of deposit to the credit of MCOP.No.1804 of 2016 on the file of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Tiruppur, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

(v) On such deposit being made, the appellant / claimant is at liberty to withdraw the same after following due process of law.

09.08.2024 Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes/No bga To

¶1Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Tirupur.

¶2National Insurance Company Limited, 215, N.H. Road, Opposite Railway Station, Railway Station, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

¶3The Section Officer, VR Section, High Court, Madras.

R. HEMALATHA, J. bga

09.08.2024

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 09.08.2024 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE R. HEMALATHA Vigneshwaran ... Appellant ..Vs.. 1. K.T. Benny 2. Arun 3. National Insurance Company Limited, 215, N.H. Road, Opposite Railway Station, Railway Station, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. ...Respondents The Respondents 1 & 2 remained ex parte before Tribunal, hence notice may be dispensed with for the Respondents 1 and 2 in this Appeal. PRAYER: Civil Miscellaneous Appeal filed under Section 173 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 against the Award passed by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Tiruppur in M.C.O.P.No.1804 of 2016 dated 02.11.2022. For Appellant : Mr.Ma.P. Thangavel. R1 & R2 : No appearance For R3 : Mrs.N.B. Surekha