Kum N Gowramma v. C Manjunatha

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO. 5362 OF 2026 (MV-D)

BETWEEN:

KUM. N. GOWRAMMA AGED ABOUT 19 YEARS. D/O. LATE NAGAPPA, R/O. KANAKOPPAHOSURU, THATHURU, TATTURU, SORABA TALUK-577429 PRESENTLY R/AT SRI RAMANAGARA, SANTHEKADUR, SHIVAMOGGA TALUK-577222. …APPELLANT

(BY SRI. CHIDAMBARA G.S., ADVOCATE) AND:

¶1C. MANJUNATHA AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, S/O. R. CHINNAPPA, R/O. 5TH CROSS, BEHIND LAKSHMI SERVICE STATION, VINOBANAGARA, SHIVAMOGGA-577202.

¶2JAGADISH, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, S/O. DODDANNA, R/O. 4TH CROSS, INDIRA BADAVANE, CHANNEL AREA, GURUPURA VIDYANAGARA, SHIVAMOGGA-577201.

Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA ((((((((((((HC-KAR, NC:(2026:KHC:46015( MFA(No.(5362(of(2026( ( ,,,,,,,,,, , CNR:(KAHC010495472026( ( (

3., THE,MANAGER,,, TATA,AIG,INSURANCE,CO.,LTD.,, TH15 ,FLOOR,,TOWER,A,,, PENINSULA,BUSINESS,PARK,,, GANAPATRAO,KADAM,MARG,,, LOWER,PAREL,,MUMBAI-400013., …RESPONDENTS, , (BY,SRI.,MALLIKARJUNA,REDDY,N.A.,,ADVOCATE,FOR,, ,,,,,,SRI.,B.,PRADEEP,,ADVOCATE,FOR,R3;, ,,,,,,V/O,DATED,03.08.2026,,NOTICE,TO,R1,AND,R2,, ,,,,,,ARE,DISPENSED,WITH), , , THIS,MFA,IS,FILED,U/S,173(1),OF,MV,ACT,AGAINST,THE, JUDGMENT, AND, AWARD, DATED, 25.4.2026, , PASSED, IN, MVC, NO.,855/2023,ON,THE,FILE,OF,THE,,III,ADDITIONAL,DISTRICT, AND, SESSIONS, JUDGE, AND, ADDITIONAL, MACT-III,, SHIVAMOGGA,,,,,,PARTLY,ALLOWING,THE,CLAIM,PETITION,FOR, COMPENSATION, AND, SEEKING, ENHANCEMENT, OF, COMPENSATION.,,,,,,,,,,,,,, , THIS, APPEAL, COMING, ON, FOR, ADMISSION,, THIS, DAY,, JUDGMENT,WAS,DELIVERED,THEREIN,AS,UNDER:, CORAM:, HON'BLE,MR.,JUSTICE,SHIVASHANKAR,AMARANNAVAR, , ORAL(JUDGMENT(

¶1This, appeal, is, filed, by, the, claimant, seeking, enhancement,of,compensation,awarded,in,the,,judgment, and,award,dated,25.04.2026,passed,in,MVC,No.,855/2023, by, the, III, Additional, District, and, Sessions, Judge, and, AMACT,,Shivamogga.,

¶2Even though the appeal is listed for admission today, with the consent of the learned counsel appearing for appellant – claimant and learned counsel appearing for respondent No. 3 – Insurer it is taken up for disposal.

¶3Appellant – claimant made a claim petition praying to award compensation for the death of Hanumanthamma in a road traffic accident that occurred on 16.10.2015 due to the rash and negligent driving by the driver of Tata Ace luggage carrier vehicle bearing registration No. KA-14-B-4109. Claimant No. 1 is the mother of the deceased and claimant No.2 is the daughter of the deceased. The Tribunal after recording evidence, appreciating the evidence on record, assessed the compensation and awarded compensation under different heads as under:

Loss of dependency Rs.6,53,400.00 Loss of estate Rs.15,000.00 Funeral expenses Rs.15,000.00

Total Rs.6,53,400.00

¶4The Tribunal has also awarded interest at the rate of 6% p.a. from date of petition till the date of realization and directed respondent No. 3 – Insurer to deposit the said award amount with interest. Claimant seeking enhancement of the compensation awarded, has filed the present appeal.

¶5Claim petition was filed by the mother and daughter of the deceased. During the pendency of the claim petition mother of the deceased died and remaining claimant is the daughter of the deceased.

¶6Heard learned counsel for appellant – claimant and learned counsel for respondent No. 3 – Insurer.

¶7Learned counsel for appellant would contend that the Tribunal has taken the personal expenses of the deceased at 50%. Claimants are mother and daughter of the deceased. The deceased being a married woman having mother and daughter, deduction is to be taken at 1/3rd. On that point she placed reliance on the decision of

a coordinate Bench of this Court in the case of Arun Vs. Ravi and another, MFA No. 102562/2025 decided on

07.07.2026. Learned counsel further submits that the Tribunal has rightly taken the notional income of the deceased at Rs.9,000/-, added 10% towards future prospects and applied multiplier 11. He submits that the Tribunal has not awarded consortium. Surviving claimant is the daughter of the deceased and she is entitled to consortium. With this he prayed to allow the appeal.

¶8Learned counsel for respondent No.3 – Insurer would contend that the compensation awarded by the Tribunal under all heads is just and proper and there are no grounds for enhancement of the compensation. After the death of one claimant, remaining claimant is the sole claimant and therefore, deduction is to be taken at 50%. With this he prayed for dismissal of the appeal.

¶9Having heard learned counsel for the parties, this Court has perused the judgment and award.

¶10Deceased was a married woman having daughter and mother. In case of married persons deduction is to be taken at 1/3rd. Deduction of 50% is to be taken in case of bachelor or unmarried woman. Therefore, deduction is to be taken at 1/3rd as against 50% taken by the Tribunal. The Tribunal has rightly taken notional income of the deceased at Rs.9,000/-, added 10% towards future prospects and applied multiplier 11. Therefore, loss of dependency is calculated as under: 9,000 + 10% = Rs.9,900/- 9,900 – 1/3 = Rs.6,600/- 6,600 X 12 X 11 = Rs.8,71,200/-.

¶11The Tribunal has not awarded loss of consortium. Surviving claimant being the daughter of the deceased, is entitled to loss of consortium in a sum of Rs.40,000/-.

¶12The Tribunal has rightly awarded Rs.15,000/- towards loss of estate and Rs.15,000/- towards funeral expenses.

¶13In view of the above, claimant is entitled to total compensation under various heads as under:

Loss of dependency Rs.8,71,200.00 Loss of estate Rs.15,000.00 Funeral expenses Rs.15,000.00 Loss of consortium Rs.40,000.00

Total Rs.9,41,200.00

¶14Considering the above aspects claimant is entitled to total compensation of Rs.9,41,200/- as against Rs.6,83,400/- awarded by the Tribunal. Consequently, claimant is entitled to enhanced compensation of Rs.2,57,800/- with interest at the rate of 6% p.a. from the date of petition till the date of realization. Respondent No. 3 – Insurer is liable to pay the said enhanced compensation with interest.

¶15In view of the above, the following;

O R D E R a) Appeal is allowed in part. b) Appellant - claimant is entitled to enhanced compensation of Rs.2,57,800/- with interest at the rate of 6% p.a. from the date of petition till the date of realization. c) Respondent No. 3 – Insurer shall deposit the enhanced compensation with interest before the Tribunal within six weeks from this day. d) Appellant - claimant is entitled to release of entire enhanced compensation.

Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE

LRS CT:SM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 46