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Judgment
P.K. Misra, J.—Heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties.
This writ petition has been filed by the parent of one K. Ramya, a girl aged about 12 years who expired on 25.6.95 on account of the accident
caused by the bullock cart belonging to respondent No. 2 - Corporation, which has been driven by an employee of the Corporation for the
purpose of scavenging.
A counter affidavit has been filed in this writ petition. Since some factual disputes had been raised, after hearing the counsel for both parties, D.
Murugesan, J. had called upon the parties to furnish a list of persons to be appointed as Arbitrator. Subsequently, the learned counsel for the
respondent had submitted the name of Sri. N.P.K. Menon, a Retired District Judge and practising Advocate in this Court. The aforesaid name was
accepted by the learned Judge and Sri. N.P.K. Menon was appointed as Arbitrator to submit his report on the following questions:
Whether the petitioner is entitled to any compensation for the loss of life of his minor daughter due to the reckless driving on the part of the
second respondent employee?
If so, to what amount of compensation the petitioner is entitled to ?
Thereafter, the Arbitrator held enquiry in presence of both parties. Evidence was adduced on behalf of the petitioners and the witnesses were
examined and cross-examined. Some documents were marked. Upon consideration of the materials available on record, the Arbitrator has found
that the accident occurred due to negligence of the bullock cart driver. The Arbitrator has suggested a sum of Rs. 4,10,000/- should be paid as
compensation by calculating Rs. 24,000/- as annual loss and by applying the multiplier of 15. This conclusion was reached by the Arbitrator by
placing reliance upon the decision of the Supreme Court reported in AIR 2001 S.C.W 3430 (M.S.GREWAL AND ANOTHER V. DEEP
CHAND SOOD AND OTHERS).
In the objection to the findings of the Arbitrator, the main point relates to the question of contributory negligence on the part of the deceased.
The Corporation has also challenged the quantum.
It is to be noticed that the earlier order of the learned Judge appointing an Arbitrator had not been challenged by either party and in fact, both
parties have participated in the enquiry conducted by the Arbitrator.
At the time of hearing of the matter, learned counsel for the Corporation has placed reliance upon the decision reported in Rajkot Municipal
Corporation Vs. Manjulben Jayantilal Nakum and Others, . That decision relates to the death of a pedestrian on account of the falling of branch of
an old tree which had been planted and was supposed to be maintained by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation. In the peculiar facts of that case, it
was held that there was no negligence and the Corporation was not liable to pay any compensation. I think the said decision is not at all applicable
to the facts of the present case where a girl child who was riding a cycle has been run over by the bullock cart which was coming from behind.
The learned counsel for the respondent No. 2 also submitted that there was no intention on the part of the bullock cart driver to cause the
accident and therefore no compensation is payable. This submission is equally fallacious. Negligence is failure to take care as required of a man of
ordinary prudence. If the bullock cart coming from behind had dashed against the cycle which was going in front of it, the only conclusion which
can be arrived at is that the accident occurred on account of negligence on the part of the bullock cart driver. No other conclusion is possible in
such a scenario.
In the counter affidavit as well as in the objection to the report of the Arbitrator, a plea has been raised regarding the contributory negligence on
the part of the deceased. It has been submitted that the parents should not have allowed the girl child aged 12 years to ride a cycle on the road and
thereby invite the accident. This submission is not only insensitive but also fallacious. It cannot be said that no child below 12 years should be
allowed to ride a cycle on the road. Merely because a child rides a cycle on the road, it does not give a license to the other users of the road to
drive any motor vehicle or the bullock cart negligently and run over such child. It is, of course, true that the child while riding a cycle is required to
be careful. Whether the child in this particular case was careless or not has to be judged on the basis of materials on record. The Arbitrator has
referred to the evidence of P.W.2- an eye-witness to the occurrence who has stated that while the child was riding the cycle, the bullock cart came
from behind and dashed against the cyclist and subsequently, the left wheel of the bullock cart ran over the child. No evidence to the contrary is
adduced on behalf of the Corporation. Even the bullock cart driver has not been examined by the Corporation to explain the circumstances under
which the accident occurred. The evidence has been accepted by the Arbitrator and I see no reason to discard such evidence or the finding that
the accident occurred only due to negligence of the bullock cart driver who came from behind and dashed against the cyclist who was going in
front of it. In such a situation, there is negligence on the part of the driver only and no contributory negligence can be attributed to the deceased.
The learned counsel for the respondent No. 2 further submitted that the quantum of compensation arrived at by the Arbitrator is excessive and
there was no justification to fix the annual contribution at Rs. 24,000/- and further there was no justification to apply the multiplier of 15. As
already indicated, the Arbitrator has relied upon the decision of the Supreme Court reported in AIR 2001 SCW 3430. After going through the
aforesaid decision, I find no reason to take a different stand. By no stretch of imagination, it can be said that fixation of Rs. 4,10,000/- is
excessively high to warrant interference by this Court.
It is of course true that in the writ petition itself, the petitioner had claimed for compensation of Rs. 4,00,000/-. In the course of hearing, I had
suggested to the learned counsel appearing for the respondents to ascertain as to whether the Corporation is willing to pay a sum of Rs. 3,50,000/-
. This suggestion was given to ensure prompt payment and avoid further legal wranglings. The learned counsel for the Corporation has expressed
the inability of the Corporation to make any such payment. On the other hand, after the matter was adjourned for the aforesaid purpose, objection
to the report of the Arbitrator has been filed. Even though the quantum suggested by the Arbitrator appears to be just, there is no justification to
direct payment of any lesser amount, the learned counsel for the petitioner has fairly submitted that the petitioner is still willing to accept Rs.
3,50,000/- to bring about an early end to the matter.
Keeping in view the fair submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner, I direct that even though a sum of Rs. 4,10,000/- is payable by the
Corporation, the petitioner would accept a sum of Rs. 3,50,000/-(Rupees Three Lakhs and Fifty Thousand only) provided such amount is paid to
the petitioner within a period of two months from the date of communication of this order. However, if the said amount is not paid within two
months, the entire sum of Rs. 4,10,000/- will be payable with interest at the rate of 9% per annum thereafter.
The Arbitrator in his memo has indicated that 13 sittings have taken place and has prayed for payment of Rs. 20,000/-(Rupees Twenty
Thousand only) as remuneration. This appears to be reasonable. It is directed that this amount of Rs. 20,000/-may be paid by the petitioner and
the respondents in equal proportion within a period of two months.
The writ petition is ordered accordingly. There will be no order as to costs. Consequently, W.M.P. No. 4711/1996 is also disposed of.