Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd v. Dinesh Kumar and Ors

FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 1o o 2023:PHHC:109668

102o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o o o o o o o FAO-4749-2014o(O&M)o o o o o o o o Decidedoono:17.08.2023o DINESHoKUMARoo o o o o o .o.o.oAppellanto Versuso AVDESHoKUMARoANDoOTHERSoo o o o .o.o.oRespondentso o FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o Decidedoono:o17.08.2023o ORIENTALoINSURANCEoCOMPANYoLIMITEDo .o.o.oAppellanto Versuso DINESHoKUMARoANDoOTHERSoo o o o .o.o.oRespondentso o CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSANJAYoVASHISTHo Present:oo Mr.oRavindraoArora,oAdvocateoforoappellantoinoFAO-5298-2013oandoforo respondentoNo.3oinoFAO-4749-2014.o o Mr.oAshitoMalik,oAdvocateoforoappellantoinoFAO-4749-2014oandoforo respondentoNo.1oinoFAO-5298-2013.o o Mr.oRakeshoDhiman,oAdvocateoforoMr.oRamoKumaroSaini,oAdvocateoo o o fororespondentsoNo.2oando3.o o Mr.oVikasoChatrath,oAdvocateoandoMs.oDilpreetoKaur,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoNo.6.o SANJAYoVASHISTH,oJ.o(Oral)o

1.oo o Byothisocommonoorder,otwooappealsoi.e.,oFAO-5298-2013oando FAO-4749-2014oshallobeodisposedoofotogetheroasotheopresentotwooappealso ariseooutoofoaocommonoMACToawardodatedo06.08.2013oinoMACToCaseoNo.o 131o ofo 2011o datedo 08.11.2011o passedo byo Ld.o Motoro Accidentso Claimso Tribunal,oKurukshetrao(hereinafteroreferredotooasoLd.oTribunal).oFAO-5298-2013o haso beeno filedo byo theo Orientalo Insuranceo Companyo Limited,o KurukshetraoagainstotheoMACToaward,owhileoFAO-4749-2014ohasobeenofiledo byotheoclaimantoforomodificationoofoaward/judgmentodatedo06.08.2013opassedo byoLd.oTribunaloforoseekingoenhancementoofotheoamountoofocompensation,oono accountooooooofooooosufferingooooooo100%ooooooofooooopermanentoooooooodisabilityooooooobyoo FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 2o o 2023:PHHC:109668

injured/victim/appellanto ino ao motoro vehicularo accident.o Foro theo sakeo ofo convenienceoandobrevity,ofactsoextractedofromoFAO-5298-2013oareodetailedo hereafter.o

2.o o Brieflyostatedofactsoofotheocaseoareothatoonotheonightoofo10tho Augusto 2011,o Dinesho Kumaro alongo witho hiso brotherso ando others,o waso travelingofromoKurukshetraotooSaharanpuroinoaoJeeporegisteredoasoHR-99HVo

(TP)-5347.o Theo vehicle,o driveno byo Respondento No.o 4o -o Rakamo Singh,o collidedo witho ao parkedo trucko registeredo aso HR-46D-4414.o Theo claimanto allegeso thato theo trucko waso parkedo dangerouslyo ino theo middleo ofo theo roado withouto parkingo lights,o indicators,o oro safetyo measures.o Thiso resultedo ino ao seriousoaccidentocausingoinjuriesotooRahuloandoDinesh,owhoowereothenotakeno too LNJPo Hospital.o Ano FIRo waso registeredo againsto respondento No.o 1o foro violationsoofotrafficorulesoandocausingoinjuries.o

3.o o ClaimantsofiledoaoclaimopetitionounderoSectiono166oando140oofo Theo Motoro Vehicleso Act,o 1988o foro seekingo compensationo beforeo theo Ld.o TribunalopleadingothatotheoTruckobearingoNo.oHR-46D-4414owasoparkedobyo RespondentoNo.o1-driveroofotheooffendingotruckoinotheomiddleoofotheoroadoinoao dangerouso mannero ando withouto caringo foro traffico rules.o Further,o parkingo lights,oindicatorsoasowelloasoreflectorsoofotheooffendingovehicleowereooffoando neitheroanyostone,obrickoorobranchesoofotreeonoroanyofireowasolitoaroundotheo offendingovehicle.oThus,oitoisotheonegligenceoofotheoRespondentoNo.1-drivero ofotheooffendingovehicleothatoledotootheoaccident.o

4.o o Aftero completiono ofo theo pleadings,o Ld.o Tribunalo framedo theo issues,owhichoareoreproducedoherebelow:o "I.o Whetherotheoaccidentoinoquestionotookoplaceoono11.08.2011oato abouto0030hoursoinotheoareaoofoSinglaoRiceoMilloonoPipli-LadwaoRoado undero policeo station,o Sadaro Thanesaro dueo too rasho ando negligento FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 3o o 2023:PHHC:109668

drivingo ofo theo trucko bearingo registrationo No.o HR-46o D-4414o byo respondentoNo.o1oandoitoresultedoinoinjuriesotooclaimant?oOPPo II.oIfoissueoNo.o1oisoprovedoinoaffirmative,owhatoextentoofocompensationo theopetitionerowouldobeoentitledotooandofromowhom?oOPPo III.oWhethero theo termso ando conditionso ofo Insuranceo Policyo wereo violatedobyoRespondentNo.o1oandoinsuranceocompany.oIsonotoliableo tooindemnifyotheocompensationoasoalleged?oOPR-3o o IV.o Relief."oo o

5.o o ForoprovingotheoissueoNo.1,oClaimantoexaminedoRahuloSharmao asoPW-1owhoowasotheoauthoroofotheoFIRo(Ex.P75)oandoheohimselfoappearedoaso PW-3,o ando categoricallyo deposedo thato ito waso theo negligenceo ofo theo RespondentoNo.1o-oDriveroofotheooffendingotruckowhicholedotootheoaccidento ando aftero submissiono ofo Reporto byo policeo undero sectiono 173o CrPCo ando framingo ofo charges,o Respondento No.1o -o Drivero ofo theo offendingo trucko iso facingotrial.o o o Ld.oCounseloforotheoRespondentoNo.o3o-oInsuranceoCompanyo vehementlyo arguedo thato theo witnesseso PW-1o ando PW-3o haveo themselveso admittedothatotheyohadocautionedotheodriveroofotheoJeepoMakeoTataoSafario aboutotheostandingotruck,ostillotheocollisionotookoplace.oThus,onegligenceoono theopartoofoDriveroofoJeepomakeoTataosafarioisoclearlyomadeoout.o

6.o o Afterogoingothroughotheodepositionsoofotheowitnesses,ooraloando documentaryo evidenceo ono recordo ando theo argumentso raisedo byo botho theo counsel,oLd.oTribunalodecidedotheoIssueoNo.o1oinofavouroofoClaimantoando categoricallyostatedoinoParaoNo.o13othato"merelyoinstructingotheodriveroatotheo sightoofotheotruck,odoesonotoindicateothatothereowasonoonegligenceoofotheo driveroparkingotheotruckoinotheomiddleoofotheoroad."o

7.o o Witho respecto too Issueo No.o 2,o Ld.o Counselo foro theo claimanto arguedothatotheoclaimantowasoadmittedoinoHospitaloforoaototalodurationoofo318o days,oplacedoonorecordotheomedicalobillsowhichowereoundisputed.oPW-2,oDr.o FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 4o o 2023:PHHC:109668

BimlaoGouriostatedothatotheoclaimantohasosufferedoaophysicalodisabilityotootheo extentoofo100%.oTheocontentionoofotheoRespondento-oInsuranceocompanyothato theodisabilityowasoassessedoquaoaoparticularolimboi.e.ospineoandonototheoentireo bodyowasorejectedobyotheoLd.oTribunal.oAgeoofotheoclaimantowasoassessedoaso 45oyearsoandoincomeowasodeterminedoasoRs.13,500/-operomonthoinoviewoofo theo incomeo taxo returns,o futureo prospectso ofo 30%o wereo appliedo ando ao multiplieroofo14owasoapplied.o o o Forotheosakeoofoconvenience,otheocompensationoawardedobyotheo learnedoTribunaloisopresentedoinoaotabularoformoherebelow:-o Heado Compensationo awardedo byo learnedoTribunalo(inoRs.)o Medicaloexpenseso Rs.o25,16,689/-o Lossoofoincomeodueotoodisabilityo Rs.29,05,560/-o Painoandosufferingo Rs.3,50,000/-o Hospitalizationochargeso Rs.4,77,000/-o Lossoofoamenitiesoandoexpectationo Rs.3,50,000/-o Totalocompensationo Rs.65,99,249/-o o

8.oo o Issueo no.o 3o waso decidedo againsto theo respondentso ando ao totalo compensationowasoawardedotootheoclaimantoasoRs.65,99,249/-oandorespondento No.1obeingodriveroofotheooffendingotruck,oRespondentoNo.o2obeingoowneroofo theo offendingo trucko ando respondento No.3o beingo insurero ofo theo offendingo vehicleo wereo heldo jointlyo ando severallyo liableo too payo theo amounto ofo compensation.o o o FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 5o o 2023:PHHC:109668

ArgumentsoofoAppellantoInsuranceoCompanyoinoFAO-5298-2013:o

9.o o Ld.oCounseloforotheoappellanto-oInsuranceoCompanyoinoFAO-5298-2013oarguesothatotheoaccidentowasocausedodueotootheonegligenceoofotheo driveroofotheoJeepomakeoTataoSafarioratherothanotheodriveroofotheooffendingo truck.oHeorefersotootheodepositionoofotheoclaimantowhooappearedoasoPW-3oaso welloasoPW-1oRahuloSharma,owhooinotheirocross-examinationohasostatedothato theyohadoseenotheotruckostandingoonotheoroadoatotheodistanceoofoaboutohalfoano acreoandoalsoowarnedotheodriverotoobeocareful.oForotheosakeoofoconvenience,o theorelevantoextractoofotheocross-examinationsoisoreproducedohereobelow:o "PW3oDineshoKumarosonoofoNasiboSingh,oagedoabouto46oyears,o residentoofoSaketoColony,oHakikatoNagar,oShaharanpuro(U.P.)o onoSAo XxoxxoxxxxobyoShrioA.S.oPabla,oAdvocateofororespondentono.3o o o IowasosittingoonotheofrontoseatoinotheoTataoSafario Car.o Theo Tatao Safario waso beingo driveno ato theo speedo ofo 50o K.M.P.H.o Io hado seeno theo trucko standingo ono theo roado ato theo distanceoofoaboutohalfoanoacre.oOurodriverowasoinstructedobyomeo toobeocarefuloasotheotruckoisostandingoinotheoroad.o o o PW1o RahuloSharmaosonoofoShrioVinodoSharma,oagedo19oyears,o student,o residento ofo Jantao Senioro Secondaryo Schoolo Camp,o Kurukshetrao oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOnoSAo XxoxxoxxxxobyoShrioA.S.oPabla,oAdvocateofororespondentono.3.o o o IowasosittingoonotheorearoseatoinotheoTataoSafarioCaro andotheonameoofoourodriverowasoRakamoSingh.oTheoTataoSafario wasobeingodrivenoatotheospeedoofo40oK.M.P.H.oDineshoclaimanto wasosittingoinotheofrontoseatoofotheoTataoSafari.oNothingowaso visibleo too meo aso too whato waso happeningo ono theo road.o VolunteeredoIohadonoticedonoticedotheotruckowhichowasoparkedo onotheoroad.oIohadoseenotheotruckostandingoonotheoroadoatotheo distanceoofoaboutohalfoanoacre.oOurodriverowasoinstructedobyomeo toobeocarefuloasotheotruckoisostandingoinotheoroad."o o o o Heofurtheroarguesothatoevenoinocase,otheorespondent-companyoiso heldoliableotoopayotheoamountoofocompensationoonoaccountoofonegligenceoofo FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 6o o 2023:PHHC:109668

theodriveroofotheooffendingotruck,ostill,otheoamountoawardedoasocompensationo isoonotheohigheroside.o

10.oo o AsofaroasodepositionoofoPW-1oandoPW-3oisoconcerned,othereoisoao specificofindingoinotheoParagrapho13oofotheoawardoofotheoLd.oTribunalowhicho hasobeenoreproducedobelow:o o o "Merelyoinstructingotheodriveroatotheosightoofotheotruck,odoesonoto indicateothatothereowasonoonegligenceoofotheodriveroparkingotheotruckoinotheo middleoofotheoroad".o

11.oo o ThisoCourtoisosatisfiedowithotheoviewoofotheoLd.oTribunalothato merelyoseeingoofotheotruckobyotheopassengersowhichowasoparkedoinotheomiddleo ofotheoroadoinoaorashoandonegligentomannerowouldonotoabsolveotheodriveroofo theooffendingotruckofromotheoliabilityoonoaccountoofohisonegligence.oFurther,o parkingolights,oindicatorsoasowelloasoreflectorsoofotheooffendingovehicleowereo offoandoneitheroanyostone,obrick,oorobranchesoofotreeonoroanyofireowasolito aroundotheooffendingovehicle.oThus,oitocannotobeoexpectedofromotheopersono whooisodrivingotheovehicleotooanticipateoaoparkedotruckoinotheomiddleooforoado atotheotimeoofodeadonightoi.e.o12:15oAMothatotoooinotheoabsenceoofoanyosignoofo warningooroforoalarmingotheopublicoinogeneral,oespeciallyotheovehiclesocomingo fromotheootherosideoofotheoroad.oInotheoaccidentsohappeningoinosuchomanner,o ratheroitowouldobeohardotooopineotheoreasonoofoaccidentodueotoocontributoryo negligence.o Tribunalo haso alsoo recordedo itso categorico findingo inoparagrapho No.14o ofo theo impugnedo awardo thato thereo waso noo caseo ofo contributoryo negligence.o o o o Thus,oissueoisodecidedoaccordingly.o o o FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 7o o 2023:PHHC:109668

ArgumentsoofoAppellant/oClaimantoinoFAO-4749-2014:o

12.o o Whileoaddressingoarguments,oCounseloforotheoappellant/claimanto inoFAO-4749-2014osubmitsothatotheoLd.oTribunalohasoerredoinodeterminingo theo totalo amounto ofo compensationo payableo too theo claimant.o Whileo substantiatingo hiso argument,o Ld.o Counselo submitso thato Ld.o Tribunalo haso failedotoograntoamountoofocompensationoonoaccountoofoattendantocharges,o futureomedicaloexpenses,ospecialodiet,otransportation,olossoofoincomeoduringo treatmentoandolossoofoenjoyment.oLd.oCounseloreliesoonotheojudgmentoofotheo Hon'bleoApexoCourtoinoKajalov.oJagdishoChandoandootherso2020(4)oSCCo 413:LawoFinderoDocoID#1679623otoosubstantiateohisoarguments.o

13.o o Ono theo othero hand,o Ld.o Counselo foro Respondento No.o 3o –o InsuranceoCompanyosubmitsothatotheoLd.oTribunalohasorightlyodeterminedotheo amountoofocompensationotoobeoawardedotootheoclaimant.oThus,othereoisonoo erroroinotheoawardorenderedobyoLd.oTribunaloandonooneedotoointerfereoinotheo same.o

14.oo o Iohaveogoneothroughotheoimpugnedoawardoandotheocalculationso mentionedotherein,oheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandohasoperusedo theoauthoritiesocited.o

15.o o Theocaseoinohandoisoaocaseoofoinjuryosufferedobyotheoclaimantoinoao motorovehicularoaccident.oDr.oBimlaoGourio(PW-2)ohasoclearlyodeposedothato itoisoaocaseoofosurvicalospineoinjury,oandotheoclaimantohasosufferedo100%o disabilityowhichoisopermanentoinonature.oThus,othisoCourtoisosatisfiedothatoitoiso aocaseoofo100%opermanentodisabilityosufferedobyotheoclaimantoinoaomotoro vehicularoaccident.o

16.oo o Thiso Courto haso goneo througho ao recento judgmento renderedo byo Hon'bleo Apexo Courto ino Abhimanyuo Partapo Singho v.o Namitao Sekhon,o LAVISHA 2022(3)oR.C.Ro(Civil)o557:oLawoFinderoDocoIDo#2008349,owherebyotheo FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 8o o 2023:PHHC:109668

ApexoCourtoobservedothatotheocompensationoinoaocaseoofomotorovehicularo accidentocanobeoassessedounderotwooheads.o Compensationoo o I.oPecuniaryo o o o o o o II.oNon-pecuniaryo A.oLossoofofutureoearningoo o o o A.oPainoandosufferingsoo B.oMedicaloexpenseso o o o o B.oLossoofoenjoymento C.oFutureomedicaloexpenseso o o o C.oLossoofoamenitieso D.oAttendantochargeso o o o o D.oLossoofomaritaloblisso E.oSpecialodieto F.oTransportationo

17.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 Nationalo Insuranceo Companyo Limitedo v.Pranayo Sethio ando otherso 2017o (4)o RCRo (Civil)o 1009:LawoFinderoDocoIDo#918174.oThus,oforotheopurposeooforeachingooutotoo appropriateo amounto ofo compensationo foro adjudgingo theo rightso ofo theo claimants,oguidelinesolaidodownoinotheojudgmentoofotheoConstitutionoBenchoino PranayoSethi'socaseo(supra),owouldohelpotheoCourts.o o o o Inoaogivenosituation,oasoinotheopresentoinjuryocase,osaido judgementoofotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtowouldoguideotheoCourtsotooassessotheo amountoofocompensationoforotheoinjuredounderotheoheadoofoapplicationoofo suitableomultiplier,ofutureoprospectsoasowelloasoattendantocharges.o

18.o o ThisoCourtowillonowodealowithoallotheoaspectsoinoorder.o FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 9o o 2023:PHHC:109668

I.k Pecuniaryoo A.kLossoofofutureoearning:o A.(i)oDeterminationoofomonthlyosalaryoofoinjured:o o o Inoorderotoocomputeotheoamountoofocompensationopayableotootheo claimant,o theo firsto aspecto too beo determinedo iso theo monthlyo salaryo ofo theo injured.oLd.oTribunaloinoitsoimpugnedoawardohasodeterminedotheosalaryoofo injuredoasoRs.o13,500/-operomonthobasedoonotheoincomeotaxoreturnso(Ex.oP4otoo Ex.oP6)owhichowasofurtherodulyoprovedobyoBhagwatioPrasadoThapliyal,oTaxo assistantowhoodeposedoasoPW-6.o o o Learnedo counselo foro theo appellant-insuranceo companyo argueso thatolearnedoTribunaloshouldohaveodetermineotheosalaryoofotheodeceasedoono theobasisoofotheoincomeotaxoreturno(Ex.P-6)oandonotoincome-taxoreturno(Ex.oP-5).oo o o Ld.o Tribunalo furthero categoricallyo observedo thato thereo waso nothingoavailableoonorecordotoodisbelieveotheodulyoprovedoincomeotaxoreturns.o Foro theo sakeo ofo convenience,o relevanto extracto ofo theo impugnedo awardo iso reproducedohereobelow:o "Inoviewoofofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocase,othereoisonothingotoo disbelieveo theo incomeo taxo returnso whicho hado beeno filedo noto aftero theo accidentobutobeforeotheoaccident."o ThisoCourtoisoad-idemowithotheoincomeoassessedobyotheoLd.oTribunal.o Thus,otheomonthlyosalaryoofotheoinjuredoisomaintainedoasRs.o13,500/-opero monthoasoheldobyoLd.oTribunal.oo Accordinglyodecided.o o A.(ii).oFutureoProspects:o o o CounseloforotheoappellantofurtheroarguesothatotheoLd.oTribunalo LAVISHA shouldohaveoprovidedoanoenhancementoofo50%otowardsofutureoprospectsotoo FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 10o o 2023:PHHC:109668

theo salaryo ofo theo injuredo aso theo injuredo haso sufferedo 100%o permanento disabilityodueotootheoaccident.oo o o Onotheootherohand,oLd.oCounseloforotheorespondento-oInsuranceo companyoarguesothatotheofutureoprospectsoawardedobyotheoLd.oTribunaloisoino consonanceowithoguidelinesolaidodownobyotheoApexoCourtoinoPranayoSethi'so caseo(supra),othus,otheosameoisoworthotoobeomaintained.o o o ThisoCourtohasogoneothroughotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoApexo CourtoinoPranayoSethi'socaseo(supra).oTheorelevantoParao61o(iii)oofotheosaido judgment,oisoreproducedohereobelow: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

(iii)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 shouldo beo regardedo aso theo necessaryo methodo ofo computation.o Theo establishedo incomeo meanso theo incomeominusotheotaxocomponent."o o o Therefore,o ino viewo ofo theo lawo laido downo byo Hon'bleo Apexo Court,o thiso Courto iso ofo theo viewo thato theo enhancemento byo wayo ofo futureo prospectso ofo 30%o addedo too theo salaryo ofo theo injuredo iso wortho too beo maintained.oThus,oafteroadditionoofofutureoprospects,otheomonthlyosalaryoofo theodeceasedowouldobeoRs.17,550/-o(Rs.13,500/-o?oRs.4,050/-).o Accordinglyodecided.o o o FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 11o o 2023:PHHC:109668

A.(iii).oAnnualoSalaryoofoInjured:o o o Now,obyomultiplyingotheomonthlyosalaryoofotheoInjuredo-oDinesho Kumaro i.e.o Rs.o 17,550/-o witho 12o monthso i.e.o oneo yearo period,o theo totalo entitlemento ofo compensationo ofo appellantso (claimants)o wouldo beo ofo Rs.2,10,600/-operoannum.o o o However,oasoperotheolawolaidodownobyotheoApexoCourtoinoSmt.o Smt.o Sarlao Vermao ando otherso v.o Delhio Transporto Corporationo ando anothero 2009(3)o R.C.R.o (Civil)o 77:Lawo Findero Doco IDo #188882,o theo incomeotaxopayableoonotheoincomeoofotheoinjuredoisotoobeodeductedofromotheo annualoincomeoofotheoinjured/othus,oLd.otribunalohasorightlyodeductedotheo amountopayableoasoincomeotaxofromotheoincomeoofotheoinjuredoi.e.oRs.3,060/-,o thus,otheoannualoincomeoofotheoinjuredoisorightlyodeterminedoasoRs.o2,07,540/-o Accordinglyodecided.o A.(iv).oMultiplier:o o o BothotheoCounseloforotheoappellanto(claimant)oandoCounseloforo theorespondento-oInsuranceoCompanyoareoad-idemotootheofactothatotheoLd.o Tribunalohasorightlyoappliedotheomultiplieroofo14owhichoisoinoconsonanceowitho theoschedule/guidelinesolaidodownoinoSmt.oSarlaoVerma'socaseo(supra).o o o ThisoCourtoalsooagreesowithotheoviewotakenobyoLd.oTribunaloaso theoageoofotheodeceasedoasoassessedobyotheoLd.oTribunaloiso45oyearsoandotheo sameofallsoinotheocategoryoofo40-45oyearsoforowhichotheomultiplieroofo14oiso applicable.oThus,otheomultiplieroofo14oappliedobyoLd.oTribunaloisoworthotoobeo maintained.o FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 12o o 2023:PHHC:109668

o o Thisoway,otheototalolossoofofutureoearning,obyoapplyingotheo multiplieroofo14,owouldobeoofoRs.o29,05,560/-.o(Rs.o2,07,540oXo14)o Accordinglyodecided.o B.MedicaloExpenseso(includingohospitalizationocharges):o o o Theo Ld.o counselo foro theo Respondento -o Insuranceo companyo contendsothatotheoLd.otribunalohasowronglyoawardedoRs.o25,16,689/-otowardso theomedicaloexpensesotootheoclaimantoasotheototalobilloofomedicaloexpenseso exhibitedobyotheoclaimantoisoonlyoRs.o17,17,786/-.oo o o Ono theo othero hand,o Ld.o Counselo foro theo appellant/o claimanto argueso thato theo medicalo expenseso awardedo byo theo Ld.o Tribunalo haso beeno rightlyoassessedoasoclaimantowasoadmittedotootheohospitaloforoaototaloperiodoofo 318odaysowhichowasofurtheroprovedobyoPW4,owhootestifiedothatoclaimantoiso underohisotreatmentosinceo15-06-2012.o o ThisoCourtoisoofotheoviewothatotheomedicaloexpensesoassessedobyo theoLd.oTribunaloisocorrectoandoinoconsonanceowithotheobillsoexhibitedoono recordoandothus,otheosameoisoworthotoobeomaintained.o Further,otheoLd.oTribunalohasoawardedoanoamountoofocompensationoofo Rs.o4,77,000/-oforoHospitalocharges.oConsideringotheofact,othatotheoclaimanto hasosufferedo100%opermanentodisabilityoinotheoaccidentoforowhichoheohadotoo beohospitalizedoforoaototaloperiodoofo318odays,othisoCourtodeemsoitoappropriateo too granto ao lumpo sumo amounto ofo compensationo ofo Rs.5,00,000/-o too theo claimantounderotheoheadoofoHospitalizationocharges.o o Thus,ototalomedicaloexpensesoincludingoHospitalisationochargeso comesotoobeoRs.o30,16,689/-o(Rs.o25,16,689o?oRs.o5,00,000)o o o ooAccordinglyodecided.o o FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 13o o 2023:PHHC:109668

C.kFutureomedicaloexpenses:o o o Asofaroasofutureomedicaloexpensesoareoconcerned,onooamountoofo compensationohasobeenoawardedobyotheoLd.oTribunalounderothisohead.oInoao caseoofo100%opermanentodisability,oaoco-ordinateoBenchoofothisoCourtohaso providedoaocompensationoofoRs.o50,000/-oinocaseotitledoasoAlkaoYadavov.o VijayoSinghoandootherso2023(1)oTACo635:oLawoFinderoDocoIDo#2145720.o o o Thus,o lookingo ato theo natureo ofo theo injuryo sufferedo byo theo claimantoandotheoamountoofocompensationoawardedobyotheoco-ordinateoBencho ofothisoCourtoinocaseoofosimilaroinjury,othisocourtodeemsoitoappropriateotoogranto aocompensationoofoRs.o50,000/-ounderotheoheadoofofutureomedicaloexpenses.o o o Accordinglyodecided.o D.kAttendantocharges:o o o Learnedo counselo foro theo appellant-insuranceo companyo argueso thatotheolearnedoTribunalohasofailedotoograntoanyocompensationoonoaccountoofo attendantochargesoalthough,otheoclaimantowilloneedoassistanceoofoanoattendanto throughoutohisolifeodueotoo100operocentopermanentodisabilityosufferedobyohimo inothisomotorovehicularoaccident.o o o ThisoCourtocannotoloseosightoofotheofactothatoinoviewoofo100%o permanentodisabilityosufferedobyotheoinjured,oheowouldorequireoanoattendanto tootakeocareoofohimoandonurseofororestoofohisolife.oForotheosaidopurpose,oano attendantowouldobeorequiredoforotheoclaimantoroundotheoclockotootakeocareoofo himoandotheoattendantowouldoalsoohaveotoobeomedicallyotrainedoandoskilled.o TheoSupremeoCourtoinoKajal'socaseo(supra)ohasocategoricallyoheldothatoeveno forodeterminingotheoattendantochargesomultiplierosystemoshouldobeofollowed.o o o Ld.o Counselo foro theo appellant/claimanto citeso ao judgemento ofo Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtotitledoasoAbhimanyuoPartapoSinghov.oNamitao FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 14o o 2023:PHHC:109668

Sekhono2022(3)oR.C.Ro(Civil)o557:oLawoFinderoDocoIdo#2008349,owhereo inoaocaseoofoinjuryoofo100%opermanentodisability,oattendantochargesoofoRs.o 10,000o pero montho wereo awardedo foro twoo attendantso ando appropriateo multiplierowasoapplied.o o o However,oonotheocarefuloperusaloofotheocitedojudgement,oitoiso evidentothatoinotheocitedocase,otheoclaimant/injuredobelongedotooanoaffluento familyoandohisofatherowasoaoprofessoroandomotherowasoanoIASoofficer.oThus,o consideringotheostatusoofotheofamily,oLd.oApexoCourtograntedoaocompensationo too theo tuneo ofo Rs.o 10,000/-o pero montho undero theo heado ofo theo attendanto charges.o o o However,o consideringo theo factso ando circumstanceso ofo theo presentocaseoinowhichotheoclaimant/oinjuredowasorunningoaokiryanaoshop,othiso Courtodeemsoitoappropriateotoograntoamountoofocompensationoonoaccountoofo attendantochargesotootheotuneoofoRs.o5,000/-operomontho(Twooattendantso@o Rs.2,500/-operomonth)oandobyoapplyingotheoappropriateomultiplierothatoiso14,o theoamountoofocompensationounderotheoheadoofocompensationochargesocomeso outotoobeoRs.o8,40,000/-o(Rs.5,000oXo12oXo14).o E.kSpecialodieto ThisoCourtoisoofotheoviewothatotheoclaimant'sopathotoorecoveryoandosustainingo ao meaningfulo lifeo necessitateso ao specialo diet.o Thiso dietaryo requirement,o essentialoforohisowell-being,owillospanotheoentiretyoofohisolife'sojourney.oAsoao recognitionoofotheseochallenges,othisoCourtodeemsoitoappropriateotooawardoano amountoofocompensationoofoRs.o1,50,000/-toosupportoandoaidohisoongoingo care.o o FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 15o o 2023:PHHC:109668

F.kTransportationo Dueotootheo100%opermanentodisabilityosufferedobyotheoclaimant,onecessityoofo recurrentohospitalovisitsoandoongoingomedicalosupportowilloarise.oThus.oThiso Courto deemso ito appropriateo too awardo ano amounto ofo compensationo ofo Rs.o 50,000/-ounderotheoheadoofotransportation,orecognizingotheoneedoforocontinuedo medicalocareoandoaimingotooprovideoaomeasureooforeliefoduringothisodifficulto time.o o o o Accordinglyodecided.o II.k Non-Pecuniaryo A.oPainoandosufferings:o o o Ld.o Tribunalo haso awardedo ano amounto ofo compensationo aso Rs.3,50,000/-o ono accounto ofo paino ando sufferingso sufferedo byo theo claimant/injuredo dueo too theo injurieso sustainedo ino theo motoro vehicularo accident.o However,o thiso Courto iso ofo theo viewo thato theo 100%o permanento disability,o stemmingo fromo ao motoro vehicularo accident,o haso inflictedo significantopainoandoprofoundodebilitationotootheoclaimant.oInotheolightoofothis,o anoaugmentationoinocompensationoforotheopurposeoofoaddressingotheoenduredo agonyo ando hardshipo iso deemedo necessary.o Thus,o theo compensationo ono accountoofolossoofopainoandosufferingsoisoenhancedotooRs.5,00,000/-.o B.kLossoofoenjoymento Theoaccidentohasoresultedoinoao100%opermanentodisabilityoforotheoclaimant,o causingoanoirrevocableolossoofoenjoymentoinoallofacetsoofolife.oRecognizingo thiso profoundo impact,o thiso Courto deemso ito appropriateo too granto ao compensationo ofo Rs.o 2,50,000/-o too addresso theo challengeso ando hardshipso FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 16o o 2023:PHHC:109668

o o Accordinglyodecided.o C.kLossoofoamenitiesotoolife:o ThisoCourtoisoofotheoviewothatoamountoofocompensationoonoaccountoofolossoofo amenitieso thato isRs.3,50,000/-o aso assessedo byo theo ld.o Tribunalo iso correct.o Thus,otheosameoisoworthotoobeomaintained.oo D.kLossoofomaritaloblisso Enduringoao100%opermanentodisabilityo afteroanoaccidentoisoaolife-alteringo challenge.oTheoaddedoanguishoofoloosingotheocherishedostateoofomaritalobliss,o aocornerstoneoofoemotionalowell-being,ocompoundsotheodistress.oRecognizingo theosignificanceoofothisoloss,otheocourtodeemsoitoappropriateotooawardoRs.o 2,50,000/-o aso ao measureo ofo reparationo foro theo profoundo impacto ono theo individual'soqualityoofolife,oacknowledgingonotoonlyophysicalodisabilityobuto alsootheointangible,oyetocrucial,olossoofomaritalohappiness.o o o Accordinglyodecided.o

19.oForotheosakeoofoconvenience,oamountoofocompensationoawardedobyothiso Courtoisoproducedohereobelowoinoaotabularoform:o Headso Compensationoawardedobyo thisoCourto I.k Pecuniaryoo o A.k Lossoofofutureoearningo Rs.29,05,560/-o B.k MedicaloExpenseso(includingoHospitalizationo Rs.o30,16,689/-o charges)o C.k FutureoMedicaloExpenseso Rs.o50,000/-o D.k AttendantoChargesoo Rs.o8,40,000o E.k Specialodieto Rs.o1,50,000/-o F.k Transportationo Rs.o50,000/-o III.k Non-oPecuniaryo o A.k PainoandoSufferingso Rs.o5,00,000/-o B.k LossoofoEnjoymento Rs.o2,50,000/-o C.k LossoofoAmenitieso Rs.o3,50,000/-o D.k LossoofoMaritaloBlisso Rs.o2,50,000/-o Totalocompensationo Rs.o83,62,249o FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 17o o 2023:PHHC:109668

20.o Ato thiso stage,o Ld.o Counselo foro theo appellanto –o Claimanto argueso thato keepingoinoviewotheoprecedentsoofotheoHon'bleoApexoCourtoandoasoappliedobyo thisoCourtoalso,otheorateoofointerestoofo6%operoannumoasoawardedobyotheoLd.o Tribunaloshouldobeoenhancedotoo7.5%operoannum.oOnotheootherohand,oLd.o Counselo foro theo appellanto –o Insuranceo companyo submitso thato theo rateo ofo interesto aso awardedo byo Ld.o Tribunalo i.e.o 6%o pero annumo iso wortho too beo maintained.o o o Thiso Courto deemso ito appropriateo too granto amounto ofo compensationo ato theo rateo ofo 7.5%o pero annumo ino consonanceo witho theo establishedoprecedents.o

21.oThus,okeepingoinoviewotheoaimoofothisobeneficialolegislationoofoprovidingo reliefotootheovictimsoorotheirofamilies,otheototalocompensationopayableotootheo appellanto(claimant)oisoRs.o83,62,249/-alongowithointerestoato7.5%operoannumo fromo theo dateo ofo filingo ofo claimo petitiono tillo theo dateo ofo paymento ofo compensationotootheoappellantso(petitioners/claimants).o

22.oNeedlessotoomentionothatooutoofotheototalopayableocompensationoamount,o alreadyopaidoamounto(ifoany),oinocomplianceotootheoimpugnedoawardowouldo beoadjusted.o

23.o However,o ito iso madeo clearo thato 50%o ofo theo awardedo amounto ofo compensationoshallobeokeptoinotheoformoofofixedodepositoinoanyonationalizedo bankofetchingomaximumointerestoforoperiodoofofiveoyearsoandoFDRoshallobeo madeoinotheonameoofotheoclaimant.o

24.o Beforeo partingo witho theo judgment,o thiso Courto extendso itso heartfelto appreciationo too theo dedicatedo assistingo Lawo Researcherso namelyo Mr.o Akinchano Aggarwalo ando Ms.o Ipshitao Arora,o foro theiro unwaveringo commitment,o rigorouso research,o meticulouso calculationso ando additionalo LAVISHA assistanceosignificantlyocontributingotootheoproceedings.o FAO-5298-2013o(O&M)o o o 18o o 2023:PHHC:109668

25.o Thus,otheoappealofiledobyotheoInsuranceoCompanyo(FAO-5298-2013)oiso dismissed,owhileotheoappealofiledobyotheoclaimant/injuredo(FAO-4749-2014)o isoallowedobyopartlyo modifyingotheoawardowithotheotermsoindicatedohere-above.o

26.oo Photocopyoofotheoorderoshallobeoplacedoonotheoconnectedocase.o (SANJAYoVASHISTH)o JUDGEo Augusto17,o2023o Lavishao o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:oYes/Noo WhetheroReportable:oYes/Noo