New India Assurance Co. Ltd vs Pooja and others

Through this appeal appellant-Insurance Company has sought reduction in the compensation amount awarded to cross-objector/respondent-

claimants No. 1 to 5, vide impugned Award dated 30.10.2014 of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Kurukshetra (for short-'the Tribunal'), in view of

judgment of Hon'ble the Supreme Court in National Insurance Co. Ltd. Vs. Pranay Sethi and others, 2017(4) RCR (Civil) 1009, whereas claimants

have filed cross-objections for enhancement of the same.

Furnishing calculations Mark-A, learned counsel for the appellant-Insurance Company, contends that according to Pranay Sethi's case (supra), the

amount of compensation has to be reduced from Rs.17,52,348/- to Rs.14,95,501/-, by taking the income of the deceased at Rs.5341/- per month on the

basis of minimum wages prescribed by the Government for the relevant period. The learned Tribunal has wrongly taken the income of deceased at

Rs. 6665/-, without any proof or basis.

On the other hand, learned counsel for cross-objector/respondent-claimants No. 1 to 5, vehemently refuting the above submissions of learned

counsel for the appellant-Insurance Company, contends that the learned Tribunal has erred in not taking the monthly income of the deceased at Rs.

80,000/- per month, despite having documentary evidence on the record that the deceased was an experienced driver having valid driving licence Ex.

P-1 valid up to 12.03.2017 , for driving heavy vehicles at Oman.

Having given considerable thought to the rival submissions made by learned counsel for both the sides, this Court is of the considered view that the

compensation awarded by the learned Tribunal vide impugned Award, neither liable to be enhanced nor to be reduced for the reasons to follow:

The cross-objector/respondent-claimants No. 1 to 5 have produced bank statement Ex. PW-3/A of Vikram Singh, father of deceased-Ajay Kumar,

showing that employer of his deceased son at Oman, M/s Purshottam Kanji EXC, had transferred Rs.21,910/- approximately, in the last six months

preceding the arrival of deceased to India in February, 2013. The accident took place on 16.07.2013. Therefore, since last six months prior to the

incident, the deceased was staying in India. No proof of income of the deceased in India was produced by cross-objector/respondent-claimants No. 1

to 5, before the learned Tribunal.

There is also no evidence on the record that deceased had to rejoin his employer at Oman. Since, there is no income proof on the record regarding

income of the deceased six months prior to the date of his death, the money transferred by the alleged employer of the deceased to the account of his

father Ex. PW-3/A, cannot be taken into consideration, in view of the fact that in foreign countries, wages in Dollar are manifold more as compared to

India.

That apart, there is no evidence on the record that as to whether the deceased was removed from his employment or was still in employment at

Oman. After his arrival to India, the deceased did not return to Oman to re-join his employment and was staying here for long. Therefore, inference

can be drawn that he was no more in employment abroad and for that reason, the deceased did not return to Oman.

According to learned counsel for the appellant-Insurance Company, the learned Tribunal ought to have taken minimum wages at Rs. 5341/- per

month prevalent at that time, prescribed by the Government, instead of Collector's rate which was Rs. 6655/- per month while calculating the

compensation.

This Court is not in agreement with the above submission of learned counsel for the appellant-Insurance Company, in view of the fact that the

deceased was having driving licence Ex. P-1, issued by the Sultanate of Oman, Royal Oman Police Directorate of Traffic, valid up to 12.03.2017,

which may be valid in India also, after completion of certain formalities under international treaties. Therefore, the learned Tribunal ought to have

taken income of the deceased much more than that of a casual labourer, considering him as a experienced driver of heavy vehicles.

Though, according to Pranay Sethi's case (supra), 40% had to be added towards future prospects, but the learned Tribunal has added 50%.

Therefore, if the same is reduced to 40%, then the compensation comes to Rs. 14,95,501/-, but the same is not reduced, in view of discussion made

above that income of the deceased would have taken much more than that of a casual labourer.

Considering this aspect of the matter, the findings of the learned Tribunal. awarding the aforesaid amount of compensation to cross-

objector/respondent-claimants No. 1 to 5 are not interfered with.

In view of the above discussion, the instant appeal as well as cross-objections are dismissed.