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Judgment
Gautam Chourdiya, J
Heard on admission.
This appeal has been filed by the injured claimant under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 against the award dated 07/01/2019 passed
by IV Additional Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Raipur in Claim Case No. 814/2015, awarding compensation of Rs. 7,22,274/- with interest @ 7.5%
per annum from the date of claim petition till realization, fastening the liability on non-applicant No. 3/ Insurance Company.
As per averments in the claim petition, on 31/01/2015 while the claimant was riding on the motorcycle as a pillion rider which was being ridden by
his brother, non-applicant No. 1 Arjun Nayak by driving Truck bearing registration No. CG-04-J-9370 in a rash and negligent manner dashed the
motorcycle of the claimant. As a result of the said accident, the claimant suffered grievous injuries including fracture on bone of his right leg.
On claim petition being filed by the claimant under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act for compensation of Rs. 42,50,000/-, the Tribunal
considering the pleadings of the parties and evidence adduced by them granted compensation as mentioned above.
Learned counsel for the appellant/claimant submits that the Tribunal has not awarded sufficient amount towards loss of income, medical expenses
and other conventional heads and therefore, in the facts and circumstances of the case and the nature of injury suffered by the claimant, the amount
awarded by the Tribunal deserves to be enhanced suitably.
Heard learned counsel for the appellant and perused the impugned award.
The Tribunal considering the documents filed by the claimant, the disability certificate of Ex.-P-55 according to which the claimant suffered 45%
permanent disability, assessed the functional disability to the extent of 30% vide para 15 of the award. Looking to the nature of injury sustained by the
claimant, evidence of Dr. Girish Kumar (AW-3) and Dr. Nand Kishore Mandape (AW-4) and the disability certificate Ex- P-55, assessment of the
functional disability to the extent of 30% by the Tribunal cannot be faulted with. Further all the medical bills have been duly considered by the
Tribunal. Considering the age of the claimant i.e., 38 years, the evidence of the claimant as well as of witness AW-2 Mohammad Ishak, income of the
claimant has been assessed as Rs. 8,000/- per month and further 40% addition to the annual income towards future prospect has been granted by the
Tribunal in view of decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the matters of National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Pranay Sethi, (2017) 16 SCC 680.
The Tribunal has rightly applied multiplier of 15 considering the age of the claimant i.e. 38 years, as per judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in
the matter of Smt. Sarla Verma and others VS. Delhi Transport Corporation and another, (2009) 6 SCC 121. As regards the amount awarded by the
Tribunal towards 30% permanent disability, medical expenses, attendant, special diet, conveyance, pain & suffering and loss of income, the same
appears to be just and proper and need no enhancement by this Court. Thus considering overall facts and circumstances of the case, pleadings of the
claimant, the evidence adduced by him and the reasons assigned by the Tribunal in the impugned award, the amount awarded by the Tribunal cannot
be said to be inadequate or on the lower side warranting interference by this Court.
In the result, the appeal being without any substance is liable to be dismissed at the admission stage itself and it is accordingly dismissed.
