Sri C Amaranath Reddy v. M/S Arunachala Logistics Pvt Ltd

JUDGMENT ON

26.03.2026 AND COMING ON FOR PRONOUNCEMENT THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE K.MANMADHA RAO

CAV JUDGMENT

This appeal is filed by the claimant challenging the judgment and award dated 24.10.2019, passed by the II Additional Senior Civil Judge and Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, at Chickballapur, in ECA No.1/2016, whereby the Tribunal has partly allowed the claim petition and awarded compensation of Rs.3,51,920/- with interest at 12% per annum, which is assailed in this appeal seeking enhancement.

¶2The appellant – petitioner has filed a claim petition under Section 22 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 seeking compensation of Rs.8,00,000/- for the injuries sustained in a road traffic accident that occurred on 07.07.2014 at about 4:50 a.m. The petitioner, who

was working as a Driver under respondent No.1, was driving a Lorry bearing Registration No.AP-24-Y-4550 on Chickballapur road. When the vehicle reached near Sabalil cross, it met with an accident during the course of his employment. Due to the said accident, the petitioner sustained fracture of both bones right fore arm fracture D-9 right rib and right medial T contusion temporal and sulcal subarachnoid heamorrhage. The petitioner was treated as an inpatient at St.John Hospital from

07.07.2014 to

21.07.2014 and thereafter, at Dr.P.Shivashankar Murthy Hospital from 01.08.2014 to

15.08.2014. During the course of treatment, he underwent surgical procedures. At the time of accident, the petitioner was aged about 21 years and earning Rs.15,000/- per month as a driver. Due to the injuries sustained, he claims to have suffered permanent disability affecting his earning capacity. The Tribunal, after considering the evidence, partly allowed the claim petition and awarded total compensation of Rs.3,51,920/-.

¶3Learned counsel for the appellant submits that the Tribunal has not properly considered the medical bills for a sum of Rs.2,25,573/- produced by him which are marked as Exs.P.9 to 13 in the impugned judgment and award. The Tribunal has also taken income of the petitioner at Rs.8,000/- per month, which is also very meager. Hence, prays for allowing the appeal.

¶4Per contra, learned counsel for the respondent No.2 has denied all the allegations made and pleaded that the respondent No.1 has not complied with the statutory demand and is not liable to pay the compensation. Hence, sought for dismissal of the appeal.

¶5Heard learned counsel appearing for the appellant and respondent No.2 and perused the material on record.

¶6It is evident from the record that, the Tribunal has not properly considered the medical bills produced by the petitioner. The actual medical expenses incurred were either ignored or inadequately assessed. The compensation awarded under various heads is on the

lower side and not corresponding with the nature of injuries.

¶7It is not in dispute that the petitioner sustained grievous injuries and underwent prolonged treatment including hospitalization and surgeries. The documentary evidence on record clearly establishes that the petitioner incurred substantial medical expenses. The Tribunal has erred in not properly appreciating the medical bills and prescriptions produced and awarding lesser amount towards medical expenses without valid reasoning and has ignored the period of hospitalization and nature of treatment. Medical bills form a crucial component in assessing just compensation when supported by documentary evidence, such expenses ought to be fully considered unless specifically disputed. The appellant has produced medical bills at Exs.P.9 to P.13 and as per Ex.P.13, the amount spent by the appellant at Sairathna Multi Specialty Hospital, Ananthpur is Rs.1,06,299/-. As per Ex.P.9, the total amount spent by the petitioner for treatment at St.John Medical General Hospital, Bengaluru

is Rs.1,11,184/-. As per Ex.P.11, the appellant has spent an amount of Rs.4,630/- and Ex.P.12, an amount of Rs.3,730/-. In all, he has spent an amount of Rs.2,25,573/- towards medical expenses.

¶8The Tribunal has awarded total compensation of Rs.3,51,920/-. Hence, considering the medical bills produced by the appellant, it is just and appropriate to award a sum of Rs.2,25,573/- towards medical expenses.

¶9The claimant is entitled to total compensation of Rs.5,77,493/- with interest at the rate of 12% p.a., from the date of petition till realization. Accordingly, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER i. The appeal is hereby allowed. ii. The judgment and award passed by the II Additional Sr. Civil Judge and Motor Accident Claims Tribunal at Chickballapur in E.C.A.No.1/2016 dated 24.10.2019 is hereby set aside holding that the claimant is entitled for compensation of Rs.5,77,493/- with

interest @ 12% p.a., from the date of petition till its realization. iii. No order as to costs.

SD/- (DR.K.MANMADHA RAO) JUDGE

MH/-

( MFA(No.(6591(of(2021( ( ( ( IN(THE(HIGH(COURT(OF(KARNATAKA(AT(BENGALURU( THDATED(THIS(THE(24 (DAY(OF(APRIL,(2026( BEFORE( THE(HON'BLE(DR.(JUSTICE(K.MANMADHA(RAO( MISCELLANEOUS(FIRST(APPEAL(NO.6591(OF(2021((ECA)( BETWEEN:(( ( SRI.,C.,AMARANATH,REDDY,, AGED,ABOUT,28,YEARS,, S/O.,C.,CHANDRASHEKAR,REDDY,, R/AT,NO.1/1050,,STALIN,NAGAR,, NARAYANAPURA,,ANANTHAPURA, ANDRA,PRADESH,-,515,004., …APPELLANT, (BY,SRI.,NAGARAJ,REDDY,D.,ADVOCATE), AND:( ( 1., M/S,ARUNACHALA,LOGISTICS,PVT.,,LTD.,, TH NO,8-3-961/B,,4 ,FLOOR, SBI,BUILDING,,SRI,NAGAR,COLONY,, S.R.,NAGAR,,HYDERABAD,, Digitallytisigned ANDRA,PRADESH,-,560,038., by , VIJAYALAKSHMI 2., THE,NATIONAL,INSURANCE,CO.,LTD.,, B0N REGIONAL,OFFICE,,NO.144,, Location:0HIGH SHUBARAM,COMPLEX,, COURT0OF M.G.,ROAD,,KARNATAKA BENGALURU,-,,560,001., REPRESENTED,BY,ITS,MANAGER., …RESPONDENTS, (VIDE,ORDER,DATED,15.02.2022,,, ,,NOTICE,TO,R1,DISPENSED,WITH,, BY,SRI.,A.M.,VENKATESH,,ADVOCATE,FOR,R2), , , THIS, MFA, IS, FILED, U/S, 30(1), EMPLOYEES, COMPENSATION, ACT,, AGAINST, THE, JUDGMENT, AND, AWARD, DT.24.10.2019, PASSED, IN, ECA, NO.1/2016, ON, THE, FILE, OF, THE, II, ADDITIONAL, SENIOR, CIVIL, JUDGE,, MACT,, CHIKBALLAPUR,,,PARTLY,ALLOWING,THE,CLAIM,PETITION,FOR, COMPENSATION AND SEEKING ENHANCEMENT OF COMPENSATION. THIS APPEAL HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED FOR