Uma Verma v. Subhash Rana

FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 1o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o 102o o o o o o o FAO-1810-2002o(O&M)o Decidedoono:o07.08.2023o UMAoVERMAoANDoOTHERSo o.o.o.oAppellantso Versuso o SUBHASHoRANAoANDoOTHERSoo .o.o.oRespondentso CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSANJAYoVASHISTHo Present:oo Mr.oHarinderoSharma,oAdvocateo forotheoappellant.o o Mr.oVinodoChaudhri,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoNo.3.o ****o SANJAYoVASHISTH,oJ.o(Oral)o

1.oo o Theo presento appealo haso beeno filedo byo theo Appellants/petitioners/claimantso (hereinaftero referredo aso claimants)o ino MACTo Caseo No.o 46o ofo 2000o datedo 12.01.2002o foro modificationo ofo award/judgmentodatedo12.01.2002opassedobyoLd.oMotoroAccidentsoClaimso Tribunal,o Jagadhrio (hereinaftero referredo too aso Ld.o Tribunal)o byo wayo ofo seekingoenhancementoofoamountoofocompensation,oonoaccountoofodeathoofo MukeshoVerma.o oo o Theo petitioners-claimantso ino theo presento caseo areo widowo (AppellantoNo.o1),odaughtero(AppellantoNo.o2),osono(AppellantoNo.o3),ofathero (Appellanto No.o 4)oando mothero (Appellanto No.o5)ofo theodeceasedo Mukesho Kumar.o o2.o o Brieflyostatedofactsoofotheocaseoareothatotheofataloaccidentotooko placeoono07.02.2000owhenotheodeceasedoMukeshoVermaowasocomingofromo LAVISHA YamunanagaroBusoStandotooJagadhri.oMukeshoVermaowasodrivingoaoscootero FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 2o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

bearingoNo.oPB/10AB/3522,owhileohisobrother-in-lawonamelyoRamoGopalo s/oMooloChandowasofollowingohimoonohisoownoscooteroatoaodistanceoofoabouto 15/20o feet.o Wheno Mukesho Vermao reachedo nearo Zimidarao Petrolo Pump,o Jagadhri,ooneoMarutioCarobearingoNo.oHR02D/7575odrivenobyoSubhashoRanao (respondentoNo.1)ostruckowithotheoscooteroofoMukeshoVerma,owhoofellodowno andobecameounconscious.oRamoGopal,owhoowasofollowingoMukeshoVermao immediatelyoparkedohisoscooteroandotookoMukeshoVermaotooGabaoHospital,o Jagadhri,owithotheohelpoofoDineshoGupta,oresidentoofoJagadhrioandosomeoothero persons.oDespiteobestoefforts,otheoconditionoofoMukeshoVermaobecameoworseo andoonomidnightoofo08.02.2000,oheowasoreferredotooPGI,oChandigarh,owhereo heosuccumbedotoohisoinjuriesoono09.02.2000.oRegardingotheosaidoaccident,o FIRoNo.o36odatedo08.02.2000ounderoSectiono279/304-AoIPCowasoregisteredoato Policeostation,oCityoJagadhri.o o3.o o ClaimantsofiledoaoclaimopetitionounderoSectiono166oando140/141o ofoTheoMotoroVehiclesoAct,o1988oforoseekingocompensationobeforeotheoLd.o TribunalopleadingothatoSubhashoRana/RespondentoNo.o1owasocomingofromo theowrongosideoandowasodrivingotheocaroinoaorashoandonegligentomannerothato ledotootheofataloaccident.o o4.o o Aftero completiono ofo theo pleadings,o Ld.o Tribunalo framedo theo followingoissues:o I.k Whetherotheomotorovehicleoaccidentothatooccurredoono07.02.2000,oiso anooutcomeooforashoandonegligentodrivingoofocarono.oHRo02D-7575o byorespondentoNo.o1?oOPPo II.k Whetherotheopetitionersoareoentitledotoocompensationoonoaccountoofo deathoofoMukeshoVerma,oifoso,oinowhatoamountoandofromowhom?o FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 3o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

III.k WhetherotheoRespondentoNo.o3,oisoentitledotoorepudiateotheocontracto ofoinsuranceoonotheogroundsoalleged?oOPR.o IV.k Reliefo o5.o o ForoprovingotheoissueoNo.1,oClaimantsoexaminedoDineshoKumaro aso PW-3,o whoo waso theo eyeo witnesso ofo theo accidento ando heo categoricallyo deposedothatotheoaccidentooccurredodueotoorashoandonegligentodrivingoofocaro bearingo No.o HRo 02D-7575o ando heo eveno followedo theo saido caro uptoo D.Co Chowk,o buto theo drivero managedo too escapeo ando latero waso identifiedo aso SubhashoRanao(RespondentoNo.1).oFurther,otheostatementoofoPW-3oremainedo unimpeachedoandounrebuttedoasonoooraloorodocumentaryoevidenceowasoplacedo onofileobyotheorespondents.oInoviewoofotheodepositionoofotheowitnessesoando evidenceo ono record,o Ld.o Tribunalo decidedo theo Issueo No.o 1o ino favouro ofo Claimants.o o6.o o ItowasoclaimedobyoClaimantsothatotheodeceasedoMukeshoVermao usedo too earno Rs.o 15,000o pero montho (Rs.9000o pero montho byo workingo aso DesignoofficeoInchargeoinoPragatioSilicooLimitedoCompanyoandoRs.o6,000opero monthobyodoingopartotimeowork).oHowever,oafteroexaminingotheowitnesseso andoperusingotheoevidenceoonorecord,oLd.oTribunalodeterminedotheomonthlyo incomeoofotheodeceasedoasoRs.o4000/-operomonth.oAgeoofotheodeceasedowaso consideredoaso28oyearsoinoconsonanceowithotheoPostomortemoreportoandoao multipliero ofo 15o waso applied.o Ld.o Tribunalo furthero awardedo Rs.o 2000o aso funeraloexpensesoandoRs.o5,000oasoexpensesoforomedicinesoandoambulance.o Thus,otheototalocompensationoawardedobyotheoTribunalowasoRs.o4,75,000.o

7.oo o Issueono.o3owasoalsoodecidedoinotheofavouroofoClaimants,oandoallo theorespondentsoi.eoDrivero–oSubhashoRanao(RespondentoNo.1),oOwnero–o Rakesho Kumaro (Respondento No.2)o ando Unitedo Indiao Assuranceo Co.o Ltd.o FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 4o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

wereo heldo jointlyo ando severallyo liableo too payo theo amounto ofo compensation.o o8.o o Appellants/Claimantso haveo filedo theo presento petitiono seekingo enhancementoofotheocompensationoasoawardedobyotheoLd.oTribunal.o o9.o o Whileo addressingo arguments,o Counselo foro theo appellantso submitsothatotheoLd.oTribunalohasoerredoinodeterminingotheomonthlyosalaryoofo theodeceasedo–oMukeshoVermaoasoonlyoRs.o4000.oWhileosubstantiatingohiso argument,oLd.oCounseloreliesouponotheodepositionoofoP.W.o4o-oRamoKumaro SainiowhoowasoworkingoasoPersonneloManageroinoPragitioSiliconsoLimited.o RamoKumaroSainiodeposedothatoDeceased-oMukeshoVerma,owasoworkingoaso DesignoofficeoinochargeoinotheosaidoconcernoandodrewoaosalaryoofoRs.o8,900.o Counseloforoappellantsofurtheroreliesoonotheosalaryocertificateo(ExhibitoP.6)o issuedo byo theo institutiono (Pragitio Siliconso Limited),o whicho bearso theo signaturesoofobothoDirectoroofotheoFirmoasowelloP.W.4oRamoKumaroSaini.oIno supportoofohisocontention,oLd.oCounseloreliesouponotheojudgmentoofoHon'bleo ApexoCourtotitledoRajwatio@oRajjoov.oUnitedoIndiaoAssuranceoCompanyo Ltd.o2023(1)oR.C.Ro(Civil)o205o=oLawoFinderoDocoIDo#2082054.oWhileo relyingo upono theo saido judgment,o Counselo foro theo appellantso submitso thato Hon'bleoApexoCourtohasoclearlyolaidodownothatotheoSalaryocertificateoisoao conclusiveo proofo ofo theo incomeo ofo theo deceased.o Foro theo sakeo ofo Convenience,oParagrapho20oofotheojudgmentoisoreproducedoherebelow:o "20.oInoviewoofotheoabove,oweodoonotoagreeowithotheoviewo takeno byo theo Higho Courto whileo rejectingo theo salaryo certificateo(Exhibito19)oandopayoslipo(Exhibito20)oofotheo deceasedomerelyoonotheogroundothatotheopersonoissuingo theo twoo aforementionedo documentso waso noto examinedo beforeotheoLearnedoTribunal.oTheo5o(2011)o3oSCCo646o FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 5o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

saidodocumentsoareoconclusiveoproofoofotheoincomeoofo theo deceasedo ando wereo alsoo corroboratedo byo theo statementso ofo theo deceased'so wifeo (Appellanto No.o 1o herein)oandohisoco-workers.oAsosuch,otheoHighoCourtowaso notojustifiedoinoassessingotheoincomeoofotheodeceasedoato Rs.4,836/-o pero montho ono theo basiso ofo minimumo wageso fixedobyotheoStateoatotheorelevantotime.oResultantly,oweo affirmotheofindingsoofotheoLearnedoTribunalosoofaroasotheyo relateotooassessingotheodeceased'soincomeoatoRs.11,225/-o peromonthoonotheobasisoofoaforementionedotwoodocuments.o Annualoincomeoofotheodeceased,otherefore,oamountsoto,o Rs.11,225/-oxo12o?oRs.1,34,700/-."o o o10.o o Ono theo othero hand,o Ld.o Counselo foro Respondento No.o 3o –o InsuranceoCompanyosubmitsothatotheoLd.oTribunalohasorightlyodeterminedotheo monthlyosalaryoofotheodeceasedoasoRs.o4000/-operomonth.oHeosubmitsothato evenotheowitnessoRamoKumaroSainio(P.W.o4)oofotheoAppellantsothemselvesoino hisocross-examinationohasoadmittedothatotheobasicosalaryoofotheodeceasedo–o MukeshoVermaowasoRs.o4000/-operomonthoandonooincomeotaxowasodeductedo fromohisosalary.oHeofurtherosubmitsothatohadohisosalaryobeenoRs.o8900/-opero monthoasoclaimedobyotheoClaimants,ohisosalaryowouldohaveobeenosubjectotoo deductionoofoincomeotax.o o11.o o ItoisofurtheroaverredobyotheoCounseloforotheopetitionersothatoino consonanceoofotheowellosettledolawolaidodownobyotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtoino NationaloInsuranceoCompanyoLimitedov.oPranayoSethioandoOrs.,o2017(4)o RCRo(Civil)o1009,o(LawoFinderoDocoIdo#918174)oandoSmt.oSarlaoVermaoando othersov.oDelhioTransportoCorporationoandoanother,o2009(3)oRCRo(Civil)o 77,o (Lawo Findero Doco IDo #188882),ao multipliero ofo 17o shouldo haveo beeno appliedoasotheotheoageoofodeceasedoatotheotimeoofohisodeathowaso28oinsteadoofo 15oasoappliedobyotheoLd.oTribunal.oHeofurtherosubmitsothatoClaimantsoareo entitledotoofutureoprospectsotootheotuneoofo40%oasotheodeceasedo–oMukesho Vermaowasoinoaofixedosalariedojoboandolessothano40oyearsoofoageoatotheotimeoofo FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 6o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

rdhisodeath.oHeofurtherosubmitsothatoLd.oTribunalohasomadeoaodeductionoofo1/3 o onoaccountoofopersonaloexpensesoofotheodeceased,ohowever,oinoviewoofotheo thlawo laido downo byo theo Apexo Court,o theo deductiono shouldo beo 1/4 o aso theo numberoofodependantsoofotheodeceasedoareofive.oHeofurtheropraysoforoRs.o 50,000oonoaccountoofofuneraloexpenses,oRs.o20,000oonoaccountoofolossoofo estateoandoRs.o44,0000oeachoonoaccountoofolossoofospousaloconsortiumotoo AppellantoNo.1,olossoofoparentaloconsortiumotooAppellanto2oando3,oandolossoofo filialoconsortiumotooAppellanto4oandoAppellanto5.oHeofurtherosubmitsothato interestoonotheosaidoamountoshouldobeomaintainedo@12%oasoawardedobyoLd.o Tribunal.o o12.o o Ld.oCounseloforotheoRespondentoNo.o3o–oInsuranceoCompanyo submitsothatoamountoofocompensationohasobeenorightlyoawardedobyotheoLd.o Tribunalo ando thereo iso noo needo ofo causingo anyo interferenceo ino theo well-reasonedoawardopassedobyotheoLd.oTribunal.o o13.o o Iohaveogoneothroughotheoimpugnedoawardoandotheocalculationso mentionedotherein,oheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandohasoperusedo theoauthoritiesocited.o o14.o o ThereoisonoodoubtothatoinoaosituationowhereotheodifferentoCourtso atodifferentotimesowereoatodiversionsoinotheiroopinionoandoinotheoabsenceoofo anyoclarificationobyotheolawomakersodespiteorecommendationsobyotheoHon'bleo Apexo Court,o allo theo majoro issueso wereo referredo too theo largero Bencho ando accordingly,o Constitutiono Bencho waso constitutedo ino Pranayo Sethi'so caseo (supra).o Thus,oforotheopurposeooforeachingooutotooappropriateoamountoofo compensationoforoadjudgingotheorightsoofotheoclaimants,oguidelinesolaidodowno inotheojudgmentoofotheoConstitutionoBenchoinoPranayoSethi'socaseo(supra),o wouldohelpotheoCourts.o o15.o o ThisoCourtowillonowodealowithoallotheoaspectsoinoorder.o FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 7o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

I.k AssessmentoofoSalaryoofodeceased:o I.A.oDeterminationoofoMonthlyoSalaryoofodeceasedo oo o Inoorderotoocomputeotheoamountoofocompensationopayableotootheo claimants,o theo firsto aspecto too beo determinedo iso theo monthlyo salaryo ofo theo deceased.oLd.oTribunaloinoitsoimpugnedoawardohasodeterminedotheosalaryoofo deceasedoasoRs.o4,000/-operomonth.oLd.oCounseloforotheoappellantsosubmitso thatoasoperoSalaryocertificateo(ExhibitoP-6),otheodeceasedoMukeshoVermaousedo toodrawo ao salaryo ofoRs.8.900opero month,o thus,o Ld.o Tribunalohaso erredoino determiningotheosalaryoofodeceasedoasoRs.o4,000/-operomonth.oCounseloforotheo appellantsohasoalsoocitedoaojudgmentoRajwatio@oRajjo'so(supra)oinosupporto ofohisocontentionoinowhichotheoApexoCourtohasoheldothatosalaryocertificateoisoao conclusiveo proofo ofo incomeo ofo theo deceased.o o However,o Counselo foro respondentoNo.o3o–oInsuranceoCompanyoarguesothatoP.W.4o–oRamoKumaro Sainio(P.W.4)ohasostatedothatonooincomeotaxowasodeductedofromotheoincomeo ofotheodeceasedoandoinohisocross-examination,oheohasofurtheroadmittedothatotheo salaryoofoDeceasedo–oMukeshoVermaowasoRs.o4,000/-operomonth.oThus,old.o Tribunalohasorightlyodeterminedotheosalaryoofotheodeceased.o oo o ThisoCourtohasogoneothroughocontentionsoofobothotheocounselo andotheojudgmentocitedobyotheoLd.oCounseloforotheoappellantsoandoisoofotheo consideredoviewothatotheomonthlyoincomeoofotheodeceasedoshouldobeoassessedo asoperotheosalaryocertificateoinoviewoofotheolawolaidodownobyotheoApexocourto ino Rajwantio @o Rajjo'so (supra).o Thiso courto iso noto ado idemo witho theo argumento propoundedo byo theo Counselo foro theo respondento ando reasoningo givenobyotheoLd.oTribunalothatosince,otheoP.Wo4ohasostatedoinohisodepositiono thatonooincomeotaxowasodeductedofromotheoincomeoofotheodeceasedoandoifotheo salaryoofodeceasedoisoassessedoasoRs.o8900/-operomonth,oitowouldohaveofalleno FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 8o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

inotheoincomeotaxobracket,othus,otheoincomeoshouldobeoassessedoasoRs.o4,000o peromonth.o oo o However,otheoclaimoofotheoappellantsothatodeceasedousedotooearno Rs.o6,000operomonthoextraobyodoingoaoapartotimeojoboisonototenableoinotheo absenceo ofo anyo cogento evidenceo producedo byo theoappellants/claimantsoono record.o oo o Thus,othisoCourtoinoconsonanceowithotheolawolaidodownobyotheo ApexocourtoinoRajwantio@oRajjoov.oUnitedoIndianoInsuranceoCompanyo Ltd.o(supra).oassessesotheoincomeoofotheodeceasedoasoRs.o8,900operomonthoaso perotheosalaryocertificateo(ExhibitoP6)owhichoisodulyosignedobyotheoDirectoroofo theoInstitutionoi.e.PragitioSiliconsoLimited.oo I.B.oFutureoProspects:o CounseloforotheoappellantsofurtheroarguesothatotheoLd.oTribunalohasofailedotoo provideoenhancementotowardsofutureoprospectsotootheosalaryoofotheodeceasedo ino consonanceo witho guidelineso laido downo byo theo Apexo Courto ino Pranayo Sethi'so caseo (supra).o Thus,otheoclaimantsoareoentitledotooenhancementoofo 40%o aso futureo prospectso aso theo deceasedo –o Mukesho Vermao waso ao fixedo salariedoemployeeoandowasoofoageolessothano40.oCounselorefersotooParao61o(iv)o ofotheosaidojudgment,owhichoisoreproducedoherebelow:o "61.o Ino viewo ofo theo aforesaido analysis,o weo proceedo too recordoouroconclusions:-o x-------x-------x--------x--------x--------x-------x------- -x-------x------x--------x------xo

(iv)oInocaseotheodeceasedowasoself-employedooroono ao fixedo salary,o ano additiono ofo 40%o ofo theo establishedoincomeoshouldobeotheowarrantowhereo theodeceasedowasobelowotheoageoofo40oyears.oAno additionoofo25%owhereotheodeceasedowasobetweeno theo ageo ofo 40o too 50o yearso ando 10%o whereo theo deceasedowasobetweenotheoageoofo50otoo60oyearso FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 9o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

shouldo beo regardedo aso theo necessaryo methodo ofo computation.o Theo establishedo incomeo meanso theo incomeominusotheotaxocomponent."o oo o Therefore,o ino viewo ofo theo lawo laido downo byo Hon'bleo Apexo Court,othisocourtodeemsoitofitotooaddofutureoprospectsotootheotuneoofo40%otootheo monthlyosalaryoofotheodeceasedo–oMukeshoVerma.oHence,oanoamountoofoRs.o 3,560o(40%oofoRs.8,900)oisoaddedoasofutureoprospectsoandothus,otheomonthlyo incomeoofotheodeceasedocomesooutotoobeoRs.o12,460o(Rs.o8,900o+oRs.o3560).o I.oC.oDeductionoTowardsoPersonaloExpenses:o InotheojudgmentoofotheoConstitutionoBenchoinoPranayoSethi'socaseo(supra),o Hon'bleo Apexo Courto haso affirmedo theo formulao laido downo ino Smt.o Sarlao Vermaoandoothersov.oDelhioTransportoCorporationoandoanother,o2009(3)o RCRo (Civil)o 77,o (Lawo Findero Doco IDo #188882)o foro theo purposeo ofo calculationoofodeductionotowardsopersonaloexpenses.oTheorelevantoparaoNo.14o ofotheosaidojudgmentosaysoasounder:-o "14.o Thougho ino someo caseso theo deductiono too beo madeo towardsopersonaloandolivingoexpensesoisocalculatedoonotheo basisoofounitsoindicatedoinoTrilokoChandra,otheogeneralo practiceo iso too applyo standardizedo deductions.o Havingo consideredoseveralosubsequentodecisionsoofothisocourt,oweo areoofotheoviewothatowhereotheodeceasedowasomarried,otheo deductionotowardsopersonaloandolivingoexpensesoofotheo deceased,oshouldobeoone-thirdo(1/3rd)owhereotheonumbero ofodependentofamilyomembersoiso2otoo3,oone-fourtho(1/4th)o whereotheonumberoofodependantofamilyomembersoiso4otoo6o ando one-fiftho (1/5th)o whereo theo numbero ofo dependanto familyomembersoexceedosix."o oo o Asopointedooutobyocounseloforotheoappellantso(claimants)oando admittedobyocounselofororespondentoNo.3o-oInsuranceoCo.,othereoareototalofiveo claimantsoinotheopresentocase.oTherefore,odeductionoofosalaryoofotheodeceasedo wouldobeo1/4thoinsteadoofo1/3rd,oasoheldobyoLd.oTribunal.oInootherowords,o FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 10o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

appellantso (claimants)o wouldo beo entitledo too receiveo 3/4tho ofo theo remnanto amountoofosalaryoofotheodeceased,owhichocomesooutotooRs.o9,345operomonth.o I.D.o AnnualoSalaryoofoDeceased:o oo o Now,o byo multiplyingo theo monthlyo salaryo ofo theo deceasedo –o MukeshoVermaoi.e.oRs.o9,345owitho12omonthsoi.e.ooneoyearoperiod,otheototalo entitlemento ofo compensationo ofo appellantso (claimants)o wouldo beo ofo Rs.o 1,12,140operoannum.o Accordinglyodecided.o II.k Multiplier:o oo o Counseloforotheoappellantso(claimants)osubmitsothatomultiplieroofo 15o haso beeno appliedo byo theo Ld.o Tribunal,o whereas,o aso pero theo schedule/guidelinesolaidodownoinoSarlaoVerma'soCaseo(supra),omultiplieroofo 17owouldobeoapplicable.o oo o ThisoCourtohasogoneothroughotheosubmissionsoandotheofindingso recordedobyotheoHon'bleApexoCourtoinoPranayoSethi'socaseo(supra)oasowello asoinoSarlaoVerma'soCaseo(supra).oUndoubtedly,oasoperotheoscheduleogiveno inoSarlaoVerma'socaseo(supra),oforotheoageogroupoofo26otoo30oyears,oapplicableo multiplieroiso17.o oo o Thus,othisoCourtoisoofotheoviewothatomultiplieroofo17oshouldohaveo beenoappliedoinotheopresentocase,oinsteadoofomultiplieroofo15,oasoappliedobyo Ld.oTribunal.o III.k LossoofoFutureoIncome:o oo o Thiso way,o totalo amounto ofo compensation,o byo applyingo theo multiplieroofo17,owouldobeoofoRs.o19,06,380/-o(Rs.o9,345oxo12oxo11).o FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 11o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

IV.k Assessmento Quao Compensationo ofo Losso Ofo Estate,o Funeralo ExpensesoandoLossoofoConsortium:o oo o Outoofoallotheoaforesaidothreeoheads,oLd.oTribunalohasoawardedo onlyo Rs.o 2000/-o quao funeralo expenseso ando Rs.5,000o aso expenseso foro medicinesoandoambulance.oHowever,onooamountoofocompensationowasoeveno assessedotowardsolossoofoestateoandolossoofoconsortium.oKeepingoinoviewotheo amountoawardedoinoanotherojudgmentobyotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtoi.e.o"Smt.o Anjalio ando otherso v.o Lokendrao Rathodo ando otherso 2023o (1)o R.C.R.o (Civil)o229oLawoFinderoDocoIDo#2081014",olump-sumoamountotowardsoofo Rs.o20,000/-ocanobeoconsideredotowardsolossoofoestate.oTheoamountoofoRs.o 2000/-o awardedo byo theo Ld.o Tribunalo seemso too beo veryo nominal,o thus,o consideringotheodateoofoaccidentoi.e.07.02.2000,oanoappropriateoamountoofoRs.o 25,000/-oforofuneraloexpensesoisojustified.oForotheoaccident,owhichotookoplaceo inotheoyearo2010,otheoHon'bleoApexoCourtoinoSmt.oAnjali'socaseo(supra)o awardedoRs.o50,000/-otowardsofuneraloexpenses.o oo o Theotermo"consortium"ohasobeenodefinedobyotheoHon'bleoApexo CourtoinoMagmaoGeneraloInsuranceoCompanyoLimitedov.oNanuoRamoaliaso ChuhruoRamoandoothers,o(2018)o18oSCCo130.oForotheosakeoofoconvenience,o theorelevantoextractoofotheojudgementoisoreproducedoherebelow:o "21.oAoConstitutionoBenchoofothisoCourtoinoPranayoSethio (supra)o dealto witho theo variouso headso undero whicho compensationoisotoobeoawardedoinoaodeathocase.oOneoofo theseo headso iso Losso ofo Consortium.o Ino legalo parlance,o "consortium"oisoaocompendiousotermowhichoencompasseso `spousalo consortium',o `parentalo consortium',o ando filialo consortium'.oTheorightotooconsortiumowouldoincludeotheo company,o care,o help,o comfort,o guidance,o solaceo ando affectionoofotheodeceased,owhichoisoaolossotoohisofamily.o Witho respecto too ao spouse,o ito wouldo includeo sexualo relationsowithotheodeceasedospouse.o

21.1.oSpousaloconsortiumoisogenerallyodefinedoasorightso pertainingotootheorelationshipoofoaohusband-wifeowhichoLAVISHA FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 12o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

allowsocompensationotootheosurvivingospouseoforolossoofo "company,osociety,ocooperation,oaffection,oandoaidoofotheo otheroinoeveryoconjugalorelation."o

21.2.oParentaloconsortiumoisograntedotootheochildoupono theoprematureodeathoofoaoparent,oforolossoofo"parentaloaid,o protection,o affection,o society,o discipline,o guidanceo ando training."o

21.3.o Filialo consortiumo iso theo righto ofo theo parentso too compensationo ino theo caseo ofo ano accidentalo deatho ofo ao child.oAnoaccidentoleadingotootheodeathoofoaochildocauseso greatoshockoandoagonyotootheoparentsoandofamilyoofotheo deceased.oTheogreatestoagonyoforoaoparentoisotooloseotheiro childoduringotheirolifetime.oChildrenoareovaluedoforotheiro love,o affection,o companionshipo ando theiro roleo ino theo familyounit.o

22.o Consortiumo iso ao specialo prismo reflectingo changingo normsoaboutotheostatusoandoworthoofoactualorelationships.o Modernojurisdictionsoworldooverohaveorecognizedothatotheo valueoofoaochild'soconsortiumofaroexceedsotheoeconomico valueo ofo theo compensationo awardedo ino theo caseo ofo theo deatho ofo ao child.o Mosto jurisdictionso thereforeo permito parentso too beo awardedo compensationo undero losso ofo consortiumoonotheodeathoofoaochild.oTheoamountoawardedo too theo parentso iso ao compensationo foro losso ofo theo love,o affection,o careo ando companionshipo ofo theo deceasedo child."o oo o Aso faro as,o awardingo ofo amountoofo compensationotowardsotheo headoofo'lossoofoconsortium'oisoconcerned,oinoPranayoSethi'socaseo(supra),o Hon'bleo Apexo Courto decidedo ito aso Rs.o 40,000/-o withouto clarifyingo theo differento relationso ofo theo claimantso witho theo deceased.o However,o subsequently,o ino Smt.o Anjali'so caseo (supra),o theo Hon'bleo Apexo Court,o awardedoamountoofocompensationoinotheoformoofo'spousaloconsortium'oando 'parentaloconsortium',oseparatelyoRs.o40,000/-otooeachoofotheoclaimants,oalongo witho10%oincreaseoafteroeveryothreeoyears.oInotheopresentocaseoalso,oifotheo sameoprincipleoisoapplied,oinothatosituation,oallotheofiveoappellantso(claimants)o wouldobeoentitledoforoRs.o44,000/-oeach,otowardsotheoheadsoofo'lossoofospousalo consortium',o 'lossoofo parentalo consortium'o ando "losso ofo filialoconsortium".oLAVISHA FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 13o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

Therefore,oitoisoheldothatoappellantso(claimants)oareoentitledoforoanoamountoofo Rs.o44,000/-oeachounderotheoheadsoofo'lossoofospousaloconsortium',o'lossoofo parentaloconsortium'oando"lossoofofilialoconsortium"o o16.o o Thus,oinotheolightoofoabove-saidodiscussion,otheototaloamountoofo compensationounderoallotheoheadsoisocalculatedoasounder:-o Sr.o Heado Compensationo No.o Awardedo

1.o Incomeo Rs.o8,900-/-op.m.o

2.o Futureo Rs.o3,560/-o(i.e.40%oofo Prospectso theoincome)o

3.o Deductiono Rs.o3,115-/-o(i.e.o1/4tho towardso ofo [Rs.o 8,900o +o Rs.o personalo 3,560]o)o expenseso

4.o Totalo Annualo Rs.o1,12,140o(i.e.o3/4tho Incomeo ofo [Rs.o 8,900o +o Rs.o 3,560]oxo12)o

5.o Multipliero 17o

6.o Losso ofo Rs.o19,06,380(oi.e.oRs.o Dependencyo 1,12,140oxo17)o

7.o Funeralo Rs.o25,000-/-o Expenseso

8.o LossoofoEstateo Rs.20,000-/-o

9.o Losso ofo Rs.o44,000-/-o FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 14o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

Spousalo Consortiumo

10.o Losso ofo Rs.o 88,000-/-o (Rs.o Parentalo 44,000oxo2)o Consortiumo too eachoofotheotwoo childreno

11.o Losso ofo Filialo Rs.o 88,000-/-o (Rs.o Consortiumo too 44,000oxo2)o parentso i.e.o mothero ando fathero ofo theo deceasedo

12.o Totalo Rs.o21,71,380-/-o Compensationo toobeoPaido o

17.oo o CalculationoofoInterest:o oo o Counselo foro theo appellantso furthero submitso thato theo rateo ofo interestoawardedobyotheoLd.oTribunaloi.e.ato12%operoannumofromotheodateoofo filingo ofo theo claimo petitiono tillo itso realizationo iso wortho too beo maintained.o However,o learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo respondento No.3o -o Insuranceo Co.,o submitso thato theo rateo ofo interesto shouldo noto beo overo theo awardedoamountoandotherefore,oitoshouldonotobeomoreothano6%operoannum.o FAO-1810-2002oo(O&M)o o 15o o 2023:PHHC:o102577o

o18.o o Io haveo goneo througho theo judgmentso citedo byo counselo foro theo appellantso(claimants)oandothus,oIodeemoitoappropriateotoograntotheorateoofo interestoato7.5%operoannum.o

19.oo o Thus,okeepingoinoviewotheoaimoofothisobeneficialolegislationoofo providingo reliefo too theo victimso oro theiro families,o theo totalo compensationo payableotootheoappellantso(claimants)oisoRs.o21,71,380/-oalongowithointerestoato

7.5%operoannumofromotheodateoofofilingoofoclaimopetitionotillotheodateoofo paymentoofocompensationotootheoappellantso(petitioners/claimants).o o20.o o Needlessotoomentionothatooutoofotheototalopayableocompensationo amount,oalreadyopaidoamounto(ifoany)oinocomplianceotootheoimpugnedoawardo wouldobeoadjusted.o o21.o o Therefore,o byo partlyo modifyingo theo award,o appealo iso allowedo withotheotermsoindicatedohere-above.o

(SANJAYoVASHISTH)o JUDGEo Augusto07,o2023o Lavishao o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:oYes/Noo WhetheroReportable:oYes/Noo o