Mamta v. Union of India & Ors

ooooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHoo 211o o o o o o o ooooooooooooooooooooCWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o Dateoofodecision:o16.02.2023o o MAMTAo o o o o o o o o .......Petitioneroo o o o o o VERSUSo o o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSo oo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o o CORAMo:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o o o o o o *****o o Present:-oo Mr.oRishavoJain,oAdvocateowithoo Mr.oKanishoJindal,oAdvocateo forotheopetitioner.o o Mr.oSudhiroNar,oSenioroPaneloCounselo fororespondentoNo.1-UnionoofoIndia.oo o Mr.oBirinderoPal,oAdvocateoo fororespondentoNo.2.oo o Mr.oSimranoBhardwaj,oAdvocateoforoo Mr.oAmanoKashyap,oAdvocateoo fororespondentsoNo.3oando4.oo o Mr.oSarthakoSoni,oAdvocateoforoo Mr.oSanjeevoSoni,oAdvocateo fororespondentoNo.6.oo o o o o *****oo VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(Oral)oo o o o o o Theopetitioneropraysoforoissuanceoofodirectionotootheorespondentsotoo grantocompensationotootheotuneoofoRs.o50olakhsoonoaccountoofodeathoofoheroson-HimanshuoGupta.o

2.o o Brieflyo summarizedo theo factso ofo theo presento caseo areo thato HimanshuoGuptao(sinceodeceasedosonoofotheopetitioner)oagedoabouto26oyearso diedoofofallingoinoaopitodugobyorespondentsoNo.4oalongolaningoproject,oonotheo interveningonightoofo11.06.2016oatoabouto9:o30op.m.owhileogoingotooRajpuraoono hisomotorcycleobearingoregistrationoNo.PB-24-B-5370oinoconnectionowithosomeo CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -2-o domesticowork.oTheosaidoaccidentooccurredowithinotheojurisdictionoofoPoliceo Station,oGandiyan,oDistrictoPatialaoandoDDRoNo.o015odatedo12.06.2016owaso registeredoinothisoregard.oItohasobeenosubmittedoothatoHimanshuoGupta,osinceo deceased,owasoworkingoasoChiefoChemistowithoM/soJaioDurgaoCementoPvt.oLtd.,o situatedo ato Industrialo Growtho Centre,o SIDCO,o Phase-1,o Sambao (Jammuo &o Kashmir)oandowasogettingoaosalaryoofoRs.o18,000/-ooperomonth.oItoisofurthero submittedothatotheodeceasedowasofirstoadmittedotooA.P.oJainoHospital,oRajpurao fromowhereoheowasoshiftedotooCiviloHospital,oRajpura.oHeosuccumbedotootheo injuriesoandohisopostmortemowasoconductedoono12.06.2016.ooAoDeathoCertificateo hasoalsoobeenoattachedoasoperowhichotheocauseoofodeathowasoinjuryosustainedoino theoaforesaidoincident.oItoisoaverredothatotheoworkoofowideningoofotheoroadofromo Chandigarho too Patialao (NH-64)o hado beeno allottedo too theo respondento No.4-CentrodorstroyoIndiaoPvt.oLtd.obyotheoNationaloHighwayoAuthorityoofoIndiaoando wasobeingoexecutedounderotheosupervisionoofotheoExecutiveoDirector,oPublico WorksoDepartmentoo(PWD),oPatiala.oDuringotheoprocessoofowideningoofotheo road,obigodeepotrenchesohadobeenodugosinceoSeptember,o2015oevenothoughoao targetocompletionodateowasoofoFebruary,o2017.ooTheoaforesaidopitsohadobeenokepto openoandowithoutoanyosafetyooroprecautionaryomeasures.oEvenonoosignsoboardso ofocautionohadobeenoaffixedoforotheosafetyoofotheopassengers/travelers.ooItoiso furtheroaverredothatotheoChandigarh-PatialaoHighwayoattractsoaohugeoandodiverseo traffico ando thato thereo waso noo occasiono whyo theo mandatoryo safetyo measuresoo oughtonototoohaveobeenoinstalledoonceosuchopitsowereobeingodugoalongotheosideo bermsoofotheoroadoitselfoandotheomotoristsowereobeingoexposedotoodanger.oTheo photographsoshowingotheoactualositeoandotheodepthoofotheopitobeingonearlyo6ofeeto andolengthoofomoreothano15ofeeoapprox.ohasobeenoappendedoasoAnnexureoP-6.ooIto alsooshowsothatotheosideoofotheoroadoisopebbledoandoisoearthenoandothusoexposingo theotwo-wheelersotooskid.oBesides,othereoisoanointersectionoatotheopoint.oFurthero CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -3-o photographso appendedo alsoo showo thato noo safetyo measureso oro diversiono signo boardsohadobeenoinstalledobyotheorespondentsodespiteothemobeingoobligatedotoo takeoappropriateoprecautionaryomeasuresoandothatotheopitsoinoquestionohaveobeeno dugoatodifferentoplacesoofoalongotheoroadoandoonlyosandofilledobagsoatosomeo placesoatosomeodistanceohaveobeenoputoasoaopreventiveomeasure.oTheosameocano beohardlyoconsideredoasoaosafetyooroaopreventiveomeasure.ooo

3.o o WrittenostatementoonobehalfooforespondentsoNo.1o&o5obyowayoofo affidavitoofoVipanoBansal,oExecutiveoEngineer,oCentraloWorksoDivisionoPWDoBo &oR,oPatialaohadobeenofiledowhereinotheofactualoaspectoisosoughtotoobeodisputed,o however,o ito iso submittedo thato theo projecto ino questiono waso undero EPCo (EngineeringoProcuremento&oConstructionoProject)oasoperowhichotheosafetyoofo meno ando materialo iso theo soleo responsibilityo ofo theo Executingo Agency.o o Theo ROW/Siteohadobeenohandedooverotootheoagencyoi.e.orespondentsoNo.3oando4oono

11.08.2015o ando allo safetyo measureso areo requiredo too beo maintainedo byo theo ExecutingoAgency.oo

4.o o oSurprisingly,o theo saido replyo fallso shorto ofo referringo too theo minimumo safetyo measureso thato wereo requiredo too beo puto ino placeo byo theo Executingo Agencyo ando alsoo failso too pointo outo theo responsibilitieso ofo theo respondentsoNo.1oando5oorotooensureothatoadequateosafetyomeasuresoareoadopted.o Theorespondentobeingotheoemployer,ocannotobeoabsolvedoofotheiroliabilityomerelyo onotheogroundothatooexecutionoofotheoworkohadobeenotransferredotoothirdoparty.oIto iso wello settledo principleo ofo lawo thato whereo ono persono authorizeso anothero too commitoaotort,otheoliabilityoforothatowouldonotobeoofothatopersonowhoocommittedo itobutoalsoooofothatopersonowhooauthorizedoit.oTheoprincipleoofo"Quiofacitopero aliumofacitoperose"owhichomeansothato"theoactoofoanoagentoisotheoactoofotheo principal".o Theo liabilityo iso thuso jointo ando severalo betweeno principalo ando theo agentoquaotheovictim,oirrespectiveoofotheirointernaloarrangement.oTheoprincipalo CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -4-o mayonotoaskohisoagentotoodoowhatoisoillegal,obutoyet,owhenotheoagentoactsoinotheo courseoofoperformanceoofohisodutiesoorofunctionsoforotheoprincipal-heobecomeso liableo foro theo sameo alongwitho theo agent.o Theo employero remainso principallyo liableoevenoifoheomay,ounderoanyocontractualoarrangement,oseekoindemnificationo ofo anyo sucho losso sustainedo byo himo fromo theo agento foro anyo failureo too takeo precautionsoorodamage/olossosustainedotherebyoandodueotooacts/omissionsoonotheo partoofotheoexecutingoagency.ooo

5.o o Ao shorto replyo ono behalfo ofo respondento No.2-Projecto Director,o Projecto Implementationo Unit,o Chandigarho –Nationalo Highwayo Authorityo ofo Indiaohasoalsoobeenofiledoasoperowhichoitohasobeenostatedothatoo4-laningoproject-o NH-64o fromo Chandigarho too Patiala,o whereo theo accidento ofo theo sono ofo theo petitionerotookoplace,ohadonotobeenoentrustedotooNHAIoforowideningoofotheoroado andoNHAIoneveroawardedotheoroadoprojectotooanyocontractoroatoanyopointoofo time.oTheoacquisitionoforotheowideningoofotheoNationaloHighwayo-64owasodoneo byoPWD-StateoofoPunjaboandonotobyotheoNHAIoandothatotheyohaveonooroleoinotheo saidocase.oo

6.o o Anothero replyo ono behalfo ofo Municipalo Corporation,o Patialao hado beenofiledoinowhichoitohasoaverredothatotheoaccidentoinoquestionohadotakenoplaceo outsideo theo municipalo limitso ofo Municipalo Corporation,o Patiala.o Ito waso alsoo averredothatotheoMunicipaloCorporationohasonoolinkowithotheoconstructionoofootheo aforesaido 4-laningo projecto ando thato o theo sameo waso beingo undertakeno byo theo Executiveo Director,o Publico Workso Departmento (PWD),o Patialao througho theo ExecutingoAgency-respondentsoNo.3oando4.oo

7.o o AoseparateoreplyobyorespondentsoNo.3o&o4oExecutingoAgencyohaso alsoobeenofiledoinowhichotheyohaveosubmittedothatotheodeceasedowasodrivingotheo motorcycleooff-roadoandofellointoonaturalodrainoasoitowasonotoaoproperoroadowhicho wasofunctionaloforoplyingotrafficoonotheosame.oTheoplaceoofoaccidentoisostatedotoo CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -5-o haveooccurredoatochainageo36+372o(betweenoPatialaoandoRajpura)owhereotheo workoofolayingopipeoculvertowasocompletedoinoFebruary,o2016.oTheopaymento waso releasedo byo theo executingo agencyo ino favouro ofo theo contractoro aftero theo completionoofotheosaidowork.oAllootheroworkoexceptoofotheofinalolayeroofoDBMo wasocompleteoandotheoroadowasomotoroableoinoalloaspectsoaboutofouromonthso priorotootheoallegedoaccident.oTheodeceasedocameoonotheoun-motorableopartoando felloinotheopitoasoaoresultoofohisoownonegligence.oo

8.o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheorespectiveo partiesoandohaveogoneothroughotheorecordowithotheiroassistance.oTheophotographso AnnexureoP-6oappendedoalongwithotheopresentopetitionoareonotodisputedobyotheo respondent-authorities.oooTheosameoclearlyoshowsothatoaopitowithoaodepthoofomoreo thano06ofeetoandolengthoofoaroundoofo15oft.owasolyingoopen,ounguardedoando unprotectedoandowithoutoanyoadequateosafetyooandosecurityomeasures.oDeohorso whato iso intero seo arrangemento ofo theo parties,o theo respondento Stateo agencieso cannotoseekotheiroexonerationofromoliabilityoasoaoprincipalounderotheocoveroofooao contractualoarrangement.oTheosaidoaspectoareoapplicableoonlyoquaotheointeroseo arrangementoamongstotheorespondentoPWDo(B&R)oandotheoExecutingoAgency.o Theoprimaryoresponsibilityoofotheorespondent-ExecutiveoDirector,oPWDo(B&R)o thusocannotobeoignored.oTheosameoisosupportedobyojudicialopronouncementoino theomatteroofo"AnandoSagaroAhluwaliaoandoothersoversusoStateoofoPunjabo ando others"o bearingo CWPo No.o 6485o ofo 2000o decidedo ono 04.07.2011,o theo relevantoparagraphsoareoextractedoasounder:oo o "3.oIfothereohadobeenoanoopenomanholeoandoaodeathohado resulted,oitowasoevidentlyoonoaccountoofotheonegligentomaintenanceo ofo theo Municipalo Corporationo thato theo deatho musto haveo comeo about.oItosimplyoanswersoresoipsaoloquiturosituationothatorequireso noofurtheroprobeoonofindingowhooisoculpable.oLearnedocounseloforo theo Stateo argueso thato theo petitionero himselfo waso guiltyo ofo contributoryonegligence.oIorejectotheopleaoasountenableoforoanoopeno CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -6-o manholeo iso indeedo ao deatho trapo ando theo Stateo oughto too owno responsibilityoforotheoconsequencesoofonotoproperlyotakingocareotoo ensureothatonoountowardoincidentocouldotakeoplaceobyoanounwaryo membero ofo theo publico fallingo intoo theo holeo ino ano unguardedo moment.oRoadsoareomeantoforouseobyotheopublicoandoifoanousero comeso too harm,o theo Stateo shallo beo directlyo responsibleo foro theo consequencesoofosuchoharm.o

4.oAopersonodyingobyoinjuriesobyofalloofotreesohasobeenodealtowithobyo theoSupremeoCourtoinoMunicipaloCorporationoofoDelhiov.oSushilao Devi,o 1999(3)o R.C.R.(Civil)o 207o :o (1999)o 1o SCCo 317.o Ino theo contextoofodutyotoomaintainoaoroadobyotheoMunicipaloauthorityofreeo fromodanger,otheoSupremeoCourtosaidoinoS.oVelayndhaoCharyaov.o HighoWayoDepartmentoofoSouthoArcot,o(1987)o3oSCCo400othatotheo dutyoincludedotheo"dutyotoowarn".oInoDr.oC.B.oSinghov.oComponento BandoAgra,o1974oACJo248,oitowasoheldothatoaolocalobodyowaso boundotoomakeoproperoarrangementsoforolightingoaostreetoandoao lapseothatocausedodamageotootheoindividualowasoheldoactionable.o Thereoisonoodearthoofoauthoritiesoforotheoprincipleothatolocalobodieso areoliableoforomaintenanceooforoadsoandotheirofailureoresultingoino harmowillogiveoriseotooclaimoforodamages.oPleaseosee,oArhratoLalo v.oAhmedabadoMunicipality,o(1904)o6oBombayoLRo75,oMohanlalo v.o Ahemdabado Municipality,o (1937)o Bombayo CRo 552;o Districto Board,oBadaunov.oSrioNiwaso(1942)oALJoRo619;oRahimoBakhsho v.oMunicipaloBoard,oBulandsahro1939oAllahabad.o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o

7.oInoPunjaboCiviloConsumeroWelfareoFronto(Regd.),oBanurov.o U.T.,o Chandigarh,o AIRo 1999o Punjabo ando Haryanao 432,o ao DivisionoBenchoofothisoCourtofoundofaultowithotheoCorporationoforo deathoofoaochildofallingothroughoanouncoveredomanhole.oReferringo tooSectiono44o(a)oofotheoPunjaboMunicipaloCorporationoAct,otheo Bencho underscoredo theo obligatoryo dutieso ofo municipalo Corporationo ando saido thato wheno Corporationo waso obligatedo too provideo basico amenitieso likeo water,o electricityo ando streets,o ito cannotobeoabsolvedoofotheoliabilityocausedodueotoodeathoofochildoino ano uncoveredo manhole,o eveno ino ano unauthorizedo colonyo establishedo withino itso limits.o Theo liabilityo ofo theo Stateo ando CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -7-o particularlyo theo Municipalityo iso thereforeo clearlyo establishedo too answero theo claimo arisingo outo ofo theo deatho ofo ao membero ofo theo public.o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo

9.oTheorightoofoinvokingoaopublicolaworemedyoisowelloestablishedobyo severalodecisionsoofotheoHighoCourtsoandoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt.o Theo Supremeo Courto haso heldo ino Commono causeo ofo Registeredo Societyov.oUnionoofoIndia,o(1999)o6oSCCo667othatotheopowerooro Courto iso noto merelyo injunctiveo ino ambit,o thato iso preventingo theo infringemento ofo ao fundamentalo righto buto ito iso alsoo remedialo ino scopeoandoprovidesoreliefoforotheobreachobyodamages.oInoDarshano ando otherso v.o Uniono ofo India,o 2000o ACJo 578o theo Delhio Higho Courtoapprovedoofotheopublicolaworemedyothroughowritoforoaoclaimo forocompensationoforodeathoofoaopersonodueotooaofalloinoaomanholeo inotheometropolitanocityoofoDelhi.oTheoDelhioHighoCourtoobserved,o "Reliefo too theo unfortunateo victimso ofo theo accidento cano noto beo allowedotoobeolostoinotheoquagmireooromorassoofoaoprotractedocivilo trial,o whereo intero seoliabilityo iso toobeodetermined."oItomadeo theo PublicoWorksoDepartmentoliableoinotheofirstoplaceoandogaveoitoao libertyo too recordo ino turno theo amounto fromo theo Municipalo Corporation."o o

9.o o TheoApexoCourtoinotheomatteroofo"SanjayoGuptaoandootherso versusoStateoofoUttaroPradeshoandoothers"ooreportedo aso (2022)o 7o SCCo 203o hasoobservedoasounder:-o

13.oxxoxxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o

48.oInoD.K.oBasuov.oStateoofoW.B.o(1997)oIoSCCo416oito wasoheldothatotheoclaimoinopublicolawoforocompensationo forounconstitutionalodeprivationoofofundamentalorightotoo lifeo ando liberty,o theo protectiono ofo whicho iso guaranteedo underotheoConstitution,oisoaoclaimobasedoonostrictoliabilityo andoisoinoadditionotootheoclaimoavailableoinoprivateolawoforo damagesoforotortiousoactsoofotheopublicoservants.oPublico lawo proceedingso serveo ao differento purposeo thano theo privateo lawo proceedings.o Awardo ofo compensationo foro CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -8-o establishedo infringemento ofo theo indefeasibleo rightso guaranteedo undero Articleo 21o ofo theo Constitutiono iso ao remedyo availableo ino publico lawo sinceo theo purposeo ofo publicolawoisonotoonlyotoociviliseopublicopowerobutoalsootoo assureotheocitizensothatotheyohaveounderoaolegalosystemo whereinotheirorightsoandointerestsoshallobeoprotectedoando preserved.oGrantoofocompensationoinoproceedingsoundero Articleo32ooroArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoforo theo establishedo violationo ofo theo fundamentalo rightso guaranteedounderoArticleo21,oisoanoexerciseoofotheocourtso undero theo publico lawo jurisdictiono foro penalisingo theo wrongdoeroandofixingotheoliabilityoforotheopublicowrongoono theoStateowhichofailedoinotheodischargeoofoitsopublicodutyo too protecto theo fundamentalo rightso ofo theo citizen.o Ino theo assessmentoofocompensation,otheoemphasisohasotoobeoono theo compensatoryo ando noto ono punitiveo element.o Theo objectiveo iso too applyo balmo too theo woundso ando noto too punisho theo transgressoro oro theo offender,o aso awardingo appropriateo punishmento foro theo offenceo (irrespectiveo ofo compensation)o musto beo lefto too theo criminalo courtso ino whichotheooffenderoisoprosecuted,owhichotheoState,oinolaw.o isodutyoboundotoodo.oTheoawardoofocompensationoinotheo publicolawojurisdictionoisoalsoowithoutoprejudiceotooanyo otheroactionolikeocivilosuitoforodamagesowhichoisolawfullyo availableotootheovictimoorotheoheirsoofotheodeceasedovictimo witho respecto too theo sameo mattero foro theo tortiouso acto committedobyotheofunctionariesoofotheoState.oTheoquantumo ofocompensationowill,oofocourse,odependouponotheopeculiaro factso ofo eacho caseo ando noo straitjacketo formulao cano beo evolvedoinothatobehalf.oTheoreliefotooredressotheowrongoforo theoestablishedoinvasionoofotheofundamentalorightsoofotheo citizen.o undero theo publico lawo jurisdictiono is,o thus,o ino additionotootheotraditionaloremediesoandonotoinoderogationo ofothem.oTheoamountoofocompensationoasoawardedobyotheo CourtoandopaidobyotheoStateotooredressotheowrongodone,o CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -9-o mayo ino ao giveno case,o beo adjustedo againsto anyo amounto whicho mayo beo awardedo too theo claimanto byo wayo ofo damagesoinoaocivilosuit.oDroDhawanoalsooreliedouponotheo judgmento reportedo aso M.C.o Mehtao v.o Uniono ofo Indiao reportedoaso(Shriram-oOleumoGas)o(1987)o1oSCCo395,otoo contendo thato too justifyo theo awardo ofo compensation,o theo requirementoisothatoinfringementomustobeogross,opatent,o incontrovertibleo ando exo facieo glaring.o Ito iso alsoo hiso submissiono thato theo remedyo ofo damageso waso ano extrao ordinaryoremedyowhereothereowasogrossoviolationoarisingo outoofodeliberateoactionooromaliciousoactionoresultingoino deprivationoofopersonaloliberty.oItoisosubmittedothatotheo exemplaryodamagesoinopublicolawowereonototoobeoconfusedo witho damageso ino privateo lawo foro whicho privateo lawo remedieso wereo available.o Theo damageso availableo foro constitutionalowrongsowereobyoveryonatureoexemplaryoando haveo ao limitedo meaningo ando wereo noto intendedo too beo compensatoryoinonature.oInosupportoofohisocontentions,oheo refersotootheojudgmentsoofotheoSupremeoCourtoinoNilabatio Beherao v.o Stateo ofo Orissao ando Indiano Councilo foro Enviro-Legalo Actiono v.o Uniono ofo India?"o reportedo aso

(1993)o 2o SCCo 746:o 1993o SCCo (Cri)o 527o Ino Nilabatio Beherao v.o Stateo ofo Orissao (supra),o ito waso heldo byo theo SupremeoCourtothatoitowould,ohowever,obeoappropriateotoo spellooutoclearlyotheoprincipleoonowhichotheoliabilityoofotheo Stateoarisesoinosuchocasesoforopaymentoofocompensationo andotheodistinctionobetweenothisoliabilityoandotheoliabilityo inoprivateolawoforopaymentoofocompensationoinoanoactiono onotort.oItomayobeomentionedostraightwayothatoawardoofo compensationo ino ao proceedingo undero Articleo 32o byo theo SupremeoCourtoorobyotheoHighoCourtounderoArticleo226oofo theo Constitutiono iso ao remedyo availableo ino publico law,o basedoonostrictoliabilityoforocontraventionoofofundamentalo rightsotoowhichotheoprincipleoofosovereignoimmunityodoeso notoapply,oevenothoughoitomayobeoavailableoasoaodefenceoino CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -10-o privateo lawo ino ano actiono basedo ono tort.o Thiso iso ao distinctionobetweenotheotwooremediesotoobeoborneoinomindo whichoalsooindicatesotheobasisoonowhichocompensationoiso awardedoinosuchoproceedings.oWeoshallonoworeferotootheo earliero decisionso ofo thiso courto aso wello aso someo othero decisionsobeforeofurtherodiscussionoofothisoprinciple.oTheo compensationoisoinotheonatureoofo"exemplaryodamages"o awardedo againsto theo wrongdoero foro theo breacho too itso publicolawodutyoandoisoindependentoofotheorightsoavailableo tootheoaggrievedopartyotooclaimocompensationounderotheo privateo lawo ino ano actiono basedoonotort,o throughoao suito institutedo ino ao courto ofo competento jurisdictiono or/ando prosecuteotheooffenderounderotheopenalolaw.o

49.oInoIndianoCounciloforoEnviro-LegaloActionov.oUniono ofo India,o reportedo aso (1996)o 3o SCCo 212o theo Supremeo CourtohadoheldothatoevenoifoitoisoassumedothatotheoCourto cannoto awardo damageso againsto theo respondentso ino proceedingsounderoArticleo32oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiao thatowouldonotomeanothatotheoCourtocouldonotodirectotheo CentraloGovernmentotoodetermineoandorecoverotheocostoofo remedialomeasuresofromotheorespondents.oItowasoheldothato Sectiono 3o ofo theo Environmento (Protection)o Act,o 1986o expresslyo empoweredo theo Centralo Governmento too madeo allosuchomeasuresoasoitodeemsonecessaryooroexpedientoforo theopurposeoofoprotectingoandoimprovingotheoqualityoofo environment.o Theo righto too claimo damageso waso lefto byo institutionoofosuitsoinoappropriateocivilocourtsoandoitowaso heldothatoifosuchosuitsowereofiledoinoformaopauperis,otheo StateoofoRajasthanoshallonotoopposeothoseoapplicationsoforo leaveotoosueoinoformaopauperis.o Xxxxooxxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxo

14.oAnoappealoagainstotheosaidoorderowasopartlyoallowedo inoMCDov.oUphaaroTragedyoVictimsoAssn.oreportedoaso

(2011)o14oSCCo481owhereinothisoCourtoheldoasounder:o (SCCopp.o528-31o&o36.oparaso60,o64,o67o&o76)o CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -11-o "60.oTheocontentionoofotheolicenseeoisowhatocouldobeo awardedoasoaopublicolaworemedyoisoonlyoaonominalo interimo oro palliativeo compensationo ando ifo anyo claimantso (legalo heirso ofo theo deceasedo oro anyo injured)o wantedo ao highero compensation,o theyo shouldo fileo ao suito foro recoveryo thereof.o Ito waso contendedothatowhatowasoawardedowasoanointerimo oropalliativeocompensation,otheoHighoCourtocouldo notohaveoassumedotheomonthlyoincomeoofoeachoadulto whoodiedoasobeingonotolessothanoRso15,000oandotheno determiningo theo compensationo byo applyingo theo multiplieroofo15owasoimproper.oThisogivesoriseotoo theo followingo question:o whethero theo incomeo ando multipliero methodo adoptedo too finallyo determineo compensationo cano beo arrivedo ato whileo awardingo tentativeo oro palliativeo compensationo byo wayo ofo ao publicolaworemedyounderoArticleo226ooro32oofotheo Constitution?o

64.o Therefore,o whato cano beo awardedo aso compensationobyowayoofopublicolaworemedyoneedo noto onlyo beo ao nominalo palliativeo amount,o buto somethingo more.o Ito cano beo byo wayo ofo makingo monetaryoamountsoforotheowrongodoneoorobyowayoofo exemplaryo damages,o exclusiveo ofo anyo amounto recoverableo ino ao civilo actiono basedo ono tortiouso liability..o o

67.o Insofaro aso deatho caseso areo concernedo theo principleo ofo determiningo compensationo iso streamlinedobyoseveralodecisionsoofothisoCourt.o(Seeo foro exampleo Sarlao Vermao v.o DTCo reportedo aso

(2009)o6oSCCo121oo)oIfothreeofactorsoareoavailableo theocompensationocanobeodetermined.oTheofirstoiso theoageoofotheodeceased,otheosecondoisotheoincomeoofo theodeceasedoandotheothirdoisonumberoofodependantso (too determineo theo percentageo ofo deductiono foroVISHAL SHARMA CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -12-o personalo expenses).o Foro convenienceo theo thirdo factorocanoalsoobeoexcludedobyoadoptingoaostandardo deductionoofoone-thirdotowardsopersonaloexpenses.o Thereforeo justo twoo factorso areo requiredo too beo ascertainedo too determineotheo compensationoino59o individualocases.oFirstoisotheoannualoincomeoofotheo deceased,otwo-othirdsoofowhichobecomesotheoannualo losso ofo dependency;o ando second,o theo ageo ofo theo deceasedowhichowillofurnishotheomultiplieroinotermso ofo Sarlao Verma.o Theo annualo losso ofo dependencyo multipliedo byo theo multipliero willo giveo theo compensation.o Aso thiso iso ao comparativelyo simpleo exercise,o weo directo theo Registraro Generalo ofo theo DelhioHighoCourtotooreceiveoapplicationsoinoregardo toodeathocases,ofromotheoclaimantso(legaloheirsoofo theodeceased)owhoowantoaocompensationoinoexcesso ofowhatohasobeenoawarded,othatois,oRso10olakhs/Rso

7.5olakhs.oSuchoapplicationsoshouldobeofiledowithino threeomonthsofromotoday.oHeoshalloholdoaosummaryo inquiryo ando determineo theo compensation.o Anyo amounto awardedo ino excesso ofo whato iso herebyo awardedo aso compensationo shallo beo borneo exclusivelyobyotheotheatreoowner.oTooexpediteotheo processotheoclaimantsoconcernedoandotheolicenseeo withotheirorespectiveocounseloshalloappearobeforeo theo Registraro withouto furthero notice.o Foro thiso purposeotheoclaimantsoandotheotheatreoowneromayo appearobeforeotheoRegistraroono10-1-2012oandotakeo furthero orderso ino theo matter.o Theo hearingo ando determinationoofocompensationomayobeoassignedotoo anyoRegistraroorootheroSenioroJudgeonominatedobyo theo learnedo Chiefo Justice/Actingo Chiefo Justiceo ofo theoDelhioHighoCourt.o Xxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -13-o

16.oWeofindotheoprecedentsoforopaymentoofocompensationo inoaowritopetitionounderoArticleo32oofotheConstitutionofallo underothreeocategoriesoofocases.oFirstocategoryoisowhereo theoactsoofocommissionooroomissionoareoattributedotootheo StateooroitsoofficersosuchoasoNilabatioBeherao(supra),oSubeo Singho(2006)o3SCCo178o,oRuduloSahov.oStateoofoBiharo&o Anr.,o(1983)o4oSCCo141o,oBhimoSinghoversusoStateoofoJ.K,o reportedoaso(1985)o4oSCCo677,oMLAov.oStateoofoJo&oKo&o Ors.,o(1985)o4oSCCo677oandoD.K.oBasuov.oStateoofoW.B.,o

(1997)o1oSCCo416o.o

17.oTheosecondocategoryoofocasesoisowhereocompensationo haso beeno awardedo againsto ao corporateo entityo whicho iso engagedoinoanoactivityohavingotheopotentialotooaffectotheo lifeoandohealthoofopeopleosuchoasoM.C.oMehtaowhereinotheo Courtoheldoasounder:o "31.o.......................oWeowouldothereforeoholdothato whereoanoenterpriseoisoengagedoinoaohazardousooro inherentlyodangerousoactivityoandoharmoresultsotoo anyoneoonoaccountoofoanoaccidentoinotheooperationo ofosuchohazardousooroinherentlyodangerousoactivityo resulting,oforoexample,oinoescapeoofotoxicogasotheo enterpriseo iso strictlyo ando absolutelyo liableo too compensateo allo thoseo whoo areo affectedo byo theo accidentoandosucholiabilityoisonotosubjectotooanyoofo theoexceptionsowhichooperateovis-a-visotheotortiouso principleo ofo stricto liabilityo undero theo ruleo inoooooooooooooooo Rylandsov.oFletcherk.kk o

18.oTheothirdocategoryocomprisesoofotheocasesowhereotheo liabilityo foro paymento ofo compensationo haso beeno apportionedobetweenotheoStateoandotheoOrganizersoofotheo function.oInoDabwalioFireoTragedyoVictimsoAssociationo v.o Uniono ofo Indiao &o Ors.,o 2009o SCCo OnLineo P&Ho 10273owhereinoinoaofireoaccident,o446opersonsodiedoando manyoothersoreceivedoburnoinjuries.oTheoHighoCourtoinoao writopetitionounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoheldo thato theo schoolo whicho organizedo theo functiono ando respondento No.o 8,o theo ownero ofo theo venue,o wouldo beo jointlyo ando severallyo liableo too payo 55%o ofo theo CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -14-o compensation,oremainingoliabilityowasotoobeoborneooutobyo theoState.o Xxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o

22.o Keepingo ino viewo theo judgmentso referredo too byo thiso Courto ino itso ordero datedo 31-7-2014',o aso alsoo theo judgmentsoreferredotooabove,oweofindothatoinfringementoofo Articleo21omayobeoanoindividualocaseosuchoasobyotheoStateo oroitsofunctionaries;oorobyotheoOrganisersoandotheoState;o orobyotheoOrganisersothemselvesohaveobeenosubject-mattero ofoconsiderationobeforeothisoCourtoinoaowritopetitionoundero Articleo32oorobeforeotheoHighoCourtounderoArticleo226o sucho aso Uphaaro Tragedyo oro Dabwalio Fireo Tragedy.o SimilaroargumentsohaveonotofoundofavourowithotheoDelhio HighoCourtoandoinoappealobyothisoCourt.oTheoviewotakeno thereino doeso noto warranto anyo interferenceo ando weo respectfullyoendorseotheosame.o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo

54.o Ino Shyamo Sundero &o Ors.o v.o Stateo ofo Rajasthan,o

(1974)o1oSCCo690o,othisoCourtoobservedothatotheomaximo resoipsaoloquitoroisoresortedotoowhenoanoaccidentoisoshowno too haveo occurredo ando theo causeo ofo theo accidento iso primarilyo withino theo knowledgeo ofo theo defendant.o Theo mereofactothatotheocauseoofotheoaccidentoisounknownodoeso notopreventotheoplaintiffofromorecoveringotheodamages,oifo propero inferenceo too beo drawno fromo theo circumstanceso whichoareoknownoisothatoitowasocausedobyotheonegligenceo ofotheodefendant.oItowasoobservedoasothus:o "9.oTheomainopointoforoconsiderationoinothisoappealo is,o whethero theo facto thato theo trucko caughto fireo iso evidenceoofonegligenceoonotheopartoofotheodriveroino theocourseoofohisoemployment.oTheomaximoresoipsao loquituroisoresortedotoowhenoanoaccidentoisoshowno toohaveooccurredoandotheocauseoofotheoaccidentoiso primarilyo withino theo knowledgeo ofo theo defendant.o CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -15-o Theo mereo facto thato theo causeo ofo theo accidento iso unknowno doeso noto prevento theo plaintiffo fromo recoveringotheodamages,oifotheoproperoinferenceotoo beodrawnofromotheocircumstancesowhichoareoknowno iso thato ito waso causedo byo theo negligenceo ofo theo defendant.oTheofactoofotheoaccidentomay,osometimes,o constituteo evidenceo ofo negligenceo ando theno theo maximoresoipsaoloquituroapplies.o o o o 10.oTheomaximoisostatedoinoitsoclassicoformobyoErle,o o o o C.J.:o[Scottov.oLondono&oSt.oKatherineoDocks,oo o o o (1865)o3oH&Co596,o601o]o o o "...owhereotheothingoisoshownotoobeounderotheo managemento ofo theo defendanto oro hiso servants,o ando theo accidentoisosuchoasoinotheoordinaryocourseoofothingsodoeso notohappenoifothoseowhoohaveotheomanagementouseopropero care,o itoaffordsoreasonableo evidence,o inotheoabsenceoofo explanationo byo theo defendants,o thato theo accidento aroseo fromowantoofocare."o Theomaximodoesonotoembodyoanyoruleoofosubstantiveolawo noroaoruleoofoevidence.oItoisoperhapsonotoaoruleoofoanyokindo butosimplyotheocaptionotooanoargumentoonotheoevidence.o LordoShaworemarkedothatoifotheophraseohadonotobeenoino Latin,onobodyowouldohaveocalledoitoaoprincipleo[Ballardov.o Northo Britisho Railwayo Co.,o 1923o SCo (HL)o 43o ].o Theo maximo iso onlyo ao conveniento labelo too applyo too ao seto ofo circumstancesoinowhichotheoplaintiffoprovesoaocaseosooaso toocalloforoaorebuttalofromotheodefendant,owithoutohavingo tooallegeoandoproveoanyospecificoactooroomissionoonotheo partoofotheodefendant.oTheoprincipalofunctionoofotheomaximo isotoopreventoinjusticeo whichowouldoresulto ifo aoplaintiffo wereoinvariablyocompelledotooproveotheopreciseocauseoofo theo accidento ando theo defendanto responsibleo foro ito eveno whenotheofactsobearingoonotheseomattersoareoatotheooutseto unknownotoohimoandooftenowithinotheoknowledgeoofotheo defendant.o Buto thougho theo parties'o relativeo accesso too CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -16-o evidenceo iso ano influentialo factor,o ito iso noto controlling.o Thus,otheofactothatotheodefendantoisoasomuchoatoaolossotoo explaino theo accidento oro himselfo diedo ino it,o doeso noto precludeoanoadverseoinferenceoagainstohim,oifotheooddso otherwiseopointotoohisonegligenceo(seeoJohnoG.oFleming,o TheoLawoofoTorts,o4thoEdn.,op.o264).oTheomereohappeningo ofo theo accidento mayo beo moreo consistento witho theo negligenceoonotheopartoofotheodefendantothanowithoothero causes.o Theo maximo iso basedo aso commonsenseo ando itso purposeo iso too doo justiceo wheno theo factso bearingo ono causationoandoonotheocareoexercisedobyodefendantoareoato theooutsetounknownotootheoplaintiffoandoareoorooughtotoobeo withinotheoknowledgeoofotheodefendanto(seeoBarkwayov.oS.o WalesoTransoo[(1950)o1oAlloERo392,o399]o).o o 11.o Theo plaintiffo merelyo proveso ao result,o noto anyo particularo acto oro omissiono producingo theo result.o Ifo theo result,oinotheocircumstancesoinowhichoheoprovesoit,omakeso ito moreo probableo thano noto thato ito waso causedo byo theo negligenceo ofo theo defendants,o theo doctrineo ofo reso ipsao loquituroisosaidotooapply,oandotheoplaintiffowillobeoentitledo toosucceedounlessotheodefendantobyoevidenceorebutsothato probability."o

55.o Further,o thiso Courto ino Pushpao baio Purshottamo Udeshiov.oRanjitoGinningo&oPressingoCo.oPvt.oLtd.o&o Anr.,o(1977)o2oSCCo745oheldothatowhereotheoplaintiffocano proveotheoaccidentobutocannotoproveohowoitohappenedotoo establishonegligenceoonotheopartoofotheodefendant,osucho hardshipo iso soughto too beo avoidedo byo applyingo theo principleooforesoipsaoloquitor.oItowasoobservedothus:o "6.oTheonormaloruleoisothatoitoisoforotheoplaintiffotooproveo negligenceobutoasoinosomeocasesoconsiderableohardshipoiso causedotootheoplaintiffoasotheotrueocauseoofotheoaccidentoiso notoknownotoohimobutoisosolelyowithinotheoknowledgeoofotheo defendanto whoo causedo it,o theo plaintiffo cano proveo theo accidentobutocannotoproveohowoitohappenedotooestablisho CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -17-o negligenceoonotheopartoofotheodefendant.oThisohardshipoiso soughtotoobeoavoidedobyoapplyingotheoprincipleooforesoipsao loquitur.o Theo generalo purporto ofo theo wordso reso ipsao loquituroisothatotheoaccidento"speaksoforoitself'oorotellsoitso ownostory.oThereoareocasesoinowhichotheoaccidentospeakso foroitselfosoothatoitoisosufficientoforotheoplaintiffotooproveo theo accidento ando nothingo more.o Ito willo theno beo foro theo defendantotooestablishothatotheoaccidentohappenedodueotoo someootherocauseothanohisoownonegligence.oSalmondoono theoLawoofoTortso(15thoEdn.)oatop.o306ostates:o o o"Theomaximoresoipsaoloquituroappliesowheneveroito iso soo improbableo thato sucho ano accidento wouldo haveo happenedowithoutotheonegligenceoofotheodefendantothatoao reasonableojuryocouldofindowithoutofurtheroevidenceothatoito wasosoocaused".o o oInoHalsbury'soLawsoofoEngland,o3rdoEdn.,oVol.o28,o atop.o77,otheopositionoisostatedothus:o"Anoexceptionotootheo generalo ruleo thato theo burdeno ofo proofo ofo theo allegedo negligenceoisoinotheofirstoinstanceoonotheoplaintiffooccurso whereverotheofactsoalreadyoestablishedoareosuchothatotheo properoandonaturaloinferenceoarisingofromothemoisothatotheo injuryo complainedo ofo waso causedo byo theo defendant'so negligence,o oro whereo theo evento chargedo a;o negligenceo `tellso ito owno story'o ofo negligenceo ono theo parto ofo theo defendant,o theo storyo soo toldo beingo clearo ando unambiguous".oWhereotheomaximoisoappliedotheoburdenoiso onotheodefendantotooshowoeitherothatoinofactoheowasonoto negligentoorothatotheoaccidentomightomoreoprobablyohaveo happenedoinoaomannerowhichodidonotoconnoteonegligenceo onohisopart."o o

10.o o Theo issueo whicho ariseso nexto foro considerationo iso whethero theo respondentsowereoinobreachoofothisoobligationsoand/orowereothusoliableotoo compensateotheovictimoforotheolossosoocaused.oo CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -18-o

11.o o Theofirstoquestionowhichothusoarisesoisoasotoowhooisounderoano obligationotooconstructoandomaintainotheoroadsoandosafetyoofotheocommuters.oo

12.o o Theohistoryooforoadsowouldonecessarilyoshowothatoconstructiono ofoRoadsohadobeenoalwaysoundertakenobyotheosovereignooandoexpenditureowaso toobeometothroughotaxesoorouserocharges.oTheonomenclatureoapartomayobeoaso Roado tax;o Cesso oro Toll-theo worko ofo constructiono oro Roadso haso beeno undertakenobyotheoStateoorounderoanoauthorityoofotheoState.oSoomuchoso,oanyo publicopassageowhichoisousedoforocommonothoroughfareooroisolaidobyopublico fundsoisodeemedotoobeovestedoinotheoState.oTitleoofosucholandovestsoinotheo provincialo govt;o theo panchayat,o theo localo bodieso oro theo Stateo instrumentalities,o aso theo caseo mayo be.o Theo Stateo may,o ino itso processo ofo carryingooutoconstructionooroRoadsoexerciseotheooptionsoofodoingoitoitselfooro undero anyo agreementso ino ao publico privateo mode.o Allo sucho agreemento doo stipulateo thato theo ownershipo ofo theo Roadso vestso witho theo Stateo ando theo collectionoofouserochargesoisounderotheoauthorityoofoStateoandofinallyotheoasseto hasotoobeotransferredotootheoState.oHence,otheoStateoremainsotheoprincipaloaso welloasoowneroofotheopropertyoi.e.oRoads.oo

13.o o Theo statueo imposeso variouso requirementso too beo compliedo foro safetyo oro userso ofo theo Roads.o Theo Motoro vehicleso Act-1988o specificallyo providesoforosignagesodepictingotheowidtholimitoinoScheduleo1o(M.22);otheo looseogravelo(C-14);otheointersectionsoetc.oo

14.o o Theo photographso (whicho areo noto disputed)o showo thato theo trenchesohaveobeenodugoandoleftoopen.oThereoisonoosignageoputoupobyotheo agenciesotoocautionotheousers.oTheoagencyosaysothatotheoworkowasocompletedo andopaymentohadobeenomadeotootheoContractoroinoFebruary,o2016oitself.oTheo incidentotookoplaceoinoJune,o2016oandophotographsoofotheoincidentoshowso CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -19-o openo pitso ato manyo places.o Invariablyo refillingo ofo theo dugo pitso ando theiro compressionowouldohaveobeenowithinotheoscopeoofoworkoandopaymentoforotheo sameo haso alsoo seeminglyo beeno doneo byo theo authoritieso withouto ensuringo refillingoofotheodugopits.oTheoauthoritiesohaveoclearlyobeenoatofault,oasoiso evidentofromotheophotographsoitself.oo

15.o o Variouso guidelineso haveo beeno issuedo foro publico safetyo ino constructionozonesowhichoincludeoaffixationoofoproperosignagesocautionotheo drivers/riders;osufficientodiversionosignoboards;oappropriateobarricadingoando fencing;oproperolightingoincludeohazardolights;oproperolayingoofoNJBo(Newo JerseyoBarrier)owithospacingowhichodoesonotoleadotoosafetyohazard;opropero delineationo ofo excavationo siteso ando barricadingo thereof;o too ensureo thato reinforcementonearoconstructionoareonotoexposedoetc.oTheophotographsoshowo thatoallosafetyonormsohaveobeenogrosslyoviolated.oTheobarricadingoisoinotheo formoofodistantlyoplacedosandofilledonon-reflectiveocementosacks.ooEvidently,o theo agencieso failedo too adhereo too theo safetyo guidelineso ando thuso exposedo peopleotoogreaterodanger.oTheocircumstancesothusospeakoforothemselves.ooTheo respondentsochoseotoosaveomoneyoinoinstallationoofosafetyomeasuresoandogaveo itoprecedenceooverosafetyoofohumanolives.oo

16.o o Theoinstantocaseoisoonlyooneoamongstonumerousosuchoaccidentso thatohappenoonoroadsoinoIndiaoandomajorlyodueotoocompleteodisregardoofotheo constructionsoagenciesotooapplyotheosafeguardsomandated.oTheoroadsoinoIndiao areo thuso amongsto theo deadliesto roadso ino theo world.o Merelyo becauseo theo respondentsochooseotoocloseotheiroeyesodoesonotomeanothatotheodangeroisonoto theiro creation.o Ito iso indeedo ao timeo ripeo wheno sucho instanceso needo too beo checkedo ando noto justo toleratedo oro ignored.o Citizenso cannoto beo lefto ato theo CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -20-o mercyoofoagenciesoandotoofendoforothemselves-evenoforotheolapsesoofotheo agencies.oo

17.o o Articleo 21o extendso righto too lifeo too everyo person.o Openo pits/trenchesoareoindeedodeathotrapsoandoStateohasotooownoresponsibilityoforo theo consequenceso ofo noto takingo propero careo too ensureo thato noo untowardo incidentotakesoplace.oTheoStateoshallobeodirectlyoresponsibleowhereosucholapseo isoevidentoandotheoharmoisoinodirectoproximityotoosuchoplace.oo

18.o o Rightotoolifeoisoanoactionableorightowhenoviolated.oAllopublicosafetyo lawsomustobeointerpretedokeepingoinoviewoundividedorightsounderoArticleo21oofo Constitutiono whicho aimso too protecto theo person.o Too provideo himo witho compensationoforobreachoofopublicosafetyoisothusonecessaryoforopromotingotheo saido objective.o Dutyo ofo careo iso expectedo fromo theo Stateo ando itso officialso functioningounderopublicosafetyolegislation.ooAopleaoofosovereignoactionowouldo notobeoapplicableooroavailableoinosuchocases.ooo

19.o o oTakingointooconsiderationotheototalityoofotheocircumstancesonoticedo aboveoandotheofactothatosomeoquestionsoofofactowouldoemergedoforodeterminationo ofosufficiencyoofocompensation;otheoincome;otheodependency;otheomultipliesotoo beoappliedoasoalsootheootheroaspectsorelatingotootheodeceasedothatoareorequiredotoo beotakenointooconsiderationoforowhicholeadingoofoevidenceowouldobeoessentialo ando thato Higho Courto iso noto ao Courto whereo sucho questionso ofo factso mayo beo determined.oTheopetitioneromay,oifosooadvised,otakeorecourseotoofilingoofoano appropriateopetitionoforoseekingocompensationobeforeotheocompetentoCiviloCourto underoaoprivateolawoactionoforojustocompensation.oHowever,oasoanoindefeasibleo righto guaranteedo undero Articleo 21o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo Indiao haso beeno infringedo dueo too breacheso attributableo exclusivelyo too theo respondents,o ano immediateo compensationo needso too beo awardedo too theo aggrievedo familyo too overcomeotheoconsequentialohardshipsoandotooenableothemotoopursueotheirorightso CWP-11525-2017o(O&M)o o o o o o o -21-o further.o Hence,o aso ano interimo measure,o respondentso No.1o &o 5o Executiveo Director,o Departmento ofo PWDo (B&R)o areo directedo too payo ano interimo compensationoofoRs.o4,50,000/-otootheopetitionerowithinoaoperiodoofotwoomonthso fromotoday.oTheosaidoamountoshallobeodisbursedotootheopetitioneroi.e.omotheroofo theodeceasedoasotheopetitionerocontendsothereoisonoootheroheiroandotheodeceasedo wasounmarried.oTheopetitioneromayotakeorecourseotooheroalternativeoremediesoino accordanceowitholaw.oTheopetitionerowouldobeoentitledotootheohigheroofotheolowo compensationo aso assessed.o Ino theo evento ofo theo petitionero beingo grantedo anyo higherocompensationobyotheoCourt,otheorespondentsowouldobeoallowedotooclaimoao set-offoforotheoaboveoamount.oHowever,oifotheocompensationoassessedoisolowero thanotheoawardedointerimocompensation,onoorefundowouldobeoadmissibleotootheo respondents.oo o o Theopetitionoisoaccordinglyodisposedoof.oo o o o o o o o o oo o o o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo FEBRUARYo16,o2023o o o o o ooJUDGEo VishaloSharmao o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo o o o WhetheroReportableo o :o Yes/Noo