Arumugam vs K.Paneerselvam, & Anr.

The appellant is the claimant in MACTOP.No.734/2009 on the file

of the learned Principal Subordinate Judge, Motor Accidents Claims

Tribunal, Puducherry. The claim was made for a sum of Rs.7,00,000/-

The Tribunal has awarded a sum of Rs.93,000/- as compensation

under various heads with interest at 7.5% p.a. from the date of

petition till the date of payment which are as follows:

Sl.No. Name of the Head Amount Rs.

1 Permanent Disability 58,000/-

2 Pain and Sufferings 10,000/-

3 Medical Expenses 5,000/-

4 Loss of Income during the treatment period 10,000/-

5 Extra Nourishment 5,000/-

6 Transport Charges 5,000/-

Total 93,000/-

The appeal is made with respect to the enhancement of the

compensation for the fracture injuries sustained by him in the accident

that occurred on 27.06.2009.

The challenge is only with respect to the quantum of

compensation. The question of negligence is not disputed. The

accident occurred on 27.06.2009 at about 06.15 p.m., while the

petitioner and his friend Raja were proceeding to Puducherry from

Kalapet on a Three Wheeler Bajaj Auto Rickshaw bearing Registration

No.PY01-R-5735 belonging to the 1st respondent, near Bharathidasan

Women College, Muthialpet, Puducherry and at that time, the driver of

the said auto drove the vehicle with a great speed and in a rash and

negligent manner, without noticing a buffalo crossing the road, dashed

against the said buffalo and due to the sudden and forcible impact, the

petitioner sustained grievous fracture injuries on his left leg thigh and

he was treated as inpatient at Government Hospital Puducherry.

Hence, the petitioner has made a claim for Rs.7,00,000/-.

The 2nd respondent Insurance Company had filed its Counter

Affidavit refuting the claim made by the petitioner. According to the

2nd respondent, the claim of the petitioner is not at all maintainable on

the ground of contributory negligence. It is also denied that the

accident was not happened due to the negligence of the 1st

respondent. Therefore, the 2nd respondent is not liable to pay any

compensation.

Based on the evidence, the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal

has held that the accident happened due to the rash and negligent

driving of the vehicle bearing Registration No.lPY01-R-5735 belongs to

the 1st respondent, driven by its driver which was insured with the 2nd

respondent. Hence, the Tribunal has directed the 2nd respondent

Insurance Company to pay a compensation of Rs.93,000/- to the

petitioner. Seeking enhancement of the same, the claimant/appellant

is before this Court with this appeal.

Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the Doctor

who treated the claimant/appellant has assessed the disability at 49%,

but the Tribunal has fixed the permanent disability only at 29%.

Further, no amount has been awarded under the head of Loss of

Amenities.

Per contra, the learned Counsel appearing for the 2nd

respondent submits that the compensation awarded by the Tribunal is

just and reasonable which does not warrant any interference at the

hands of this Court.

I have considered the rival submissions made on either side

and I have also perused the records carefully.

The injured had sustained disability and that is certified to be

at 49% by the Doctor as per Ex.P.7 and the said Doctor has been

examined as P.W.2. However, the Tribunal had taken the disability

only at 29% and awarded Rs.58,000/-. For the accident of the year

2009, this Court has already awarded Rs.3,000/- for each per centage.

Hence, following the same, this Court is inclined to award Rs.3,000/-

for each per centage of disability i.e. 40% x 3,000 = 1,20,000/-.

Accordingly, taking the disability at 40% as the injured had undergone

surgery etc., the pain and sufferings awarded at Rs.10,000/- is

enhanced to Rs.25,000/-. For the medical expenditure, the Tribunal

had awarded Rs.5,000/- and the same is confirmed. Though the

injured had undergone a surgery, it was done in the Government

Hospital at free of cost. Hence, there were no bills produced by the

claimant for the medical expenses.

Due to the accident, for the loss of income during the treatment

period, the tribunal had awarded a sum of Rs.10,000/-. This Court is

not inclined to interfere with the same as rightly pointed out by the

learned Counsel for the 2nd respondent that there is no evidence

produced to show the income of the claimant. With respect to the

amount awarded under the head of ''''Extra Nourishment'''', this Court is

enhancing the same from Rs.5,000/- to Rs.10,000/- and confirming

the award amount of Rs.5,000/- towards transport expenses.

Considering the age of the injured and the sufferings, he has

undergone due to the accident, he should be awarded under the head

of Loss of Amenities. That has not been considered by the tribunal.

Therefore, this Court is adding another Rs.10,000/- under the head of

Loss of Amenities.

In fine, the appeal is allowed in part enhancing the

award of compensation as follows:

Sl.No. Name of the Head Amount Rs.

1 Permanent Disability 1,20,000/-

2 Pain and Sufferings 25,000/-

3 Medical Expenses 5,000/-

4 Loss of Income during the treatment period 10,000/-

5 Extra Nourishment 10,000/-

6 Transport Charges 5,000/-

7 Loss of Amenities 10,000/-

Total 1,85,000/-

It is stated that the compensation already awarded has

been deposited. The 2nd respondent Insurance company is directed to

deposit the remaining enhanced award amount within a period of four

weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this Order along with

interest at 7.5% p.a. from the date of petition till the date of deposit.

In the event of such deposit being made, the appellant is entitled to

withdraw the said amount. No costs.