Sandeep Kaur v. State of Punjab and Ors

o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHoo o o o o o o LPA-2351-2017o(O&M)o o o o o Reservedoon:o22.01.2026o o o o o Pronouncedoon:o13.02.2026o o o o o Uploadedoon:o13.02.2026o o o o o o SandeepoKauroo o o ...Appellanto o o o Versuso o StateoofoPunjaboandootherso o o ...Respondentso o o o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoHARSIMRANoSINGHoSETHIo o o HON'BLEoMR.JUSTICEoVIKASoSURIo o o Present:o Mr.oG.S.oPunia,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo Ms.oHarveenoKaur,oAdvocateoforotheoappellant.oo o Mr.oRahuloRampal,oAddl.oA.G.oPunjab.oo o Mr.oAmanoBansal,oAdvocateofororespondentoNos.5oando6.o o o o o o o *****o o VIKASoSURI,oJ.o

1.o o Theopresentointra-courtoappeal,ounderoClauseoXoofotheoLetterso Patent,ohasobeenofiledobyotheopetitioner-appellantobeingoaggrievedobyotheo judgmentopassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudge,owherebyotheowritopetitiono haso beeno dismissedo ino limine,o byo concludingo thato theo sameo iso noto maintainable.oo

1.1o o Theotwo-foldoprayerobeforeotheowritoCourtowasoforoissuanceoofo ao mandamuso directingo re-investigationo ofo caseo FIRo No.128o datedo

29.10.2013oregisteredoatoPoliceoStationoAmloh,oDistrictoFatehgarhoSahib,o undero Sectiono 338o IPC,o allegingo thato theo investigationo haso beeno doneo o -2-o o o underotheoinfluenceooforespondentoNos.5oando6;oandoalsooforoissuanceoofoano appropriateodirectionoawardingodamagesotootheotuneoofoRs.1oCroreotootheo petitioneroasosheohasobecomeo100%opermanentlyodisabledoowingotootheo wallo collapseo incidento ino whicho sheo sufferedo grievouso injurieso ando vertebralofractures.ooo

2.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo appellanto submittedo thato theo writo petitionoinvolvedotwooaspectsoofotheomatter,ooneobeingotheocriminalityoofo theo actions/omissionso leadingo too theo incidento whereino theo appellanto sufferedo100%odisablementoandotheootherowithoregardotootortuousoliabilityo forowhichotheoclaimoforocompensationohasobeenoraised.oo

3.o o Briefly,o theo appellanto iso statedo too haveo beeno ao finalo yearo student,oatotheotimeoofotheoincident,oenrolledoinoB.Sc.ocourseowithoDesho Bhagato Universityo (respondento No.5)o (hereinaftero referredo too aso "theo University"),o whicho iso managedo byo Aasrao Foundationso (Regd.o Societyo underotheoSocietiesoRegistrationoAct,o1860)o(respondentoNo.6).oo

3.1o o Ono 11.10.2013,o theo appellanto wento too theo bathroomo ino theo universityo campuso alongo witho hero friendoKamal.o Whileohero friendo waso insideotheobathroom,osheosatorightooutsideoonotheochairoofochowkidaar.oOno theo fatefulo day,o owingo too ao stormo ofo dust,o theo wallo ofo theo bathroomo collapsedoandounfortunately,osheowasotrappedobeneathotheodebris,owhicho resultedoinofractureoofoherobackbone.oo

3.2o o Theo appellanto waso takeno too theo Civilo Hospital,o Mandio Gobindgarh,o ino theo buso ofo theo University,o foro first-aid.o Dueo too hero lamentableoconditionoonotheoaccountoofotheobathroomowallohavingofalleno ono her,o sheo waso referredo too Governmento Medicalo Collegeo &o Hospital,o o -3-o o o Sectoro32,oChandigarhoandowasotransportedothereoinoanoambulance.oItoiso averredothatoasonobodyowasoattendingotooheroinotheomannerorequired,osheo wasothereafteroshiftedotooAlchemistoHospital,oSectoro21,oPanchkula.oItoiso alsoo averredo thato theo Universityo Authoritieso promisedo too meeto allo theo expenses,ohowever,otheyodepositedoRs.2,25,000/-oonlyoupotillo18.10.2013o andothereafter,odidonotomeetoanyoexpense,omedicaloorootherwise.oo

3.3o o Ono theo statemento ofo theo appellant,o caseoFIRo No.128odatedo

29.10.2013,o undero Sectiono 338o IPCo waso registeredo ato Policeo Stationo Amloh,oDistrictoFatehgarhoSahib.oItoisoallegedothatotheopoliceoauthoritieso dido noto investigateo aso too whoo waso negligento regardingo theo repairo ando constructionoofotheowalloand,oforoextraneousoconsideration,oonlyoaccusedo oneoVishaloSharma,oanoemployeeoofotheorespondentoUniversity,owhoowaso dischargedovideoorderodatedo18.04.2017obyotheolearnedotrialoCourt.oo

4.o o Learnedoseniorocounseloforotheoappellantosubmittedothatotheo concernedoUniversityoAuthoritiesohaveonotobeenomadeoanoaccusedobyotheo prosecutionoandotherefore,otheoappellantohadosoughtore-investigation.oItoiso furthero submittedo thato ono accounto ofo theo medicalo conditiono ofo theo appellant,owhichohasonotoimprovedomuchosinceotheofatefuloday,osheosoughto foroaodirectionotoobeoawardedodamagesoasosheohasobeenorenderedo100%o disabledoonoaccountoofonegligenceoofotheoauthoritiesoinonotoperformingo theiro dutieso ando insuringo propero constructiono ando maintenanceo ofo theo Universityobuildings.oRelianceoisoplacedouponotheodecisionorenderedobyotheo Hon'bleo Madraso Higho Courto ino WPo No.19260o ofo 2002o decidedo ono

14.08.2008o titledo aso V.o Subramaniamo vs.o Stateo ofo Tamilo Naduo ando others,oreportedoino2010oACJo1861.oo o -4-o o o

5.o o Upononoticeoofotheoappeal,otheorespondentoauthoritiesohaveo opposedotheoclaimoofotheopetitioner-appellantobyofilingoreplyowhereinoitoiso submittedo thato theo suprao FIRo No.128o datedo 29.10.2013o waso registeredo againsto Vishalo Sharma,o whoo standso dischargedo video ordero datedo

18.04.2017.o Theo incidento haso noto beeno deniedo thougho theo sameo waso referredo too aso unfortunate.o Ito iso furthero submittedo thato theo respondento Universityohasoborneotheoentireoexpensesoincurredoonotheotreatmentoofotheo petitioner/appellant,owhoohasoapproachedotheoWritoCourtoafterofouroyearso ofo theo incident.o Ito iso furthero statedo thato ino caseo theo appellanto haso anyo grievanceo witho regardo too theo investigationo orodischargeo ofo theo accusedo VishaloSharma,osheocouldohaveoavailedoaolegaloremedyobyochallengingotheo dischargeoorderodatedo18.04.2017oandotheowritopetitionoisonotomaintainable,o asosuch.oItoisoalsoostatedoonobehalfoofotheoUniversityoAuthoritiesothatotheo Universityohas,oonoaffidavit,oofferedotoopayoanoamountoofoRs.5olakhotootheo appellantoasofulloandofinaloamountotowardsoheroclaimowhichoisootherwiseo notomaintainableoandofurthermore,oaosuitableoemploymentohasoalsoobeeno offeredotootheoappellantooroanyoeligibleomemberoofoheroimmediateofamily,o subjectotoofulfillmentoofotheorequisiteoqualificationsoandoconditionsoforotheo saidopost.oRespondentoNos.5oando6ohaveoreiteratedothatotheoliabilityotoopayo anyocompensationocannotobeofastenedouponothemoasotheobathroomowallohaso notofallenodueotooanyonegligenceoonotheopartoofotheorespondentoUniversity.o LearnedocounseloforotheorespondentoUniversityohasothusodefendedotheoordero passedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeodismissingotheowritopetitionoasonoto maintainable.oo o -5-o o o

6.o o Learnedoseniorocounseloforotheoappellantoatotheoveryooutseto seeksolibertyotooapproachotheoappropriateoauthorityoregardingoredressaloofo theoappellant'sogrievanceoasofaroasotheoaspectoofocriminalityobehindotheo incidentoisoconcerned.oHowever,oheoseeksotooagitateohisoactionableoclaim,o quao theo civilo liability,o ino theo shapeo ofo claimo foro awardo ofo damages/o compensation.oThereoisonooseriousooppositionotootheopleaotooapproachotheo appropriateoauthority,obutotheoclaimoforodamagesoisohotlyocontested.oAtothiso stage,otheoappellantosubmitsothatoheodoesonotopressotheopresentoappealoquao theo prayero ino theo writo petitiono seekingo re-investigationo witho libertyo too pursueoheroremedyobeforeotheoauthoritiesoconcerned.oOrderedoaccordingly.o

7.o o Weohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoatolengthoando haveoperusedotheomaterialoplacedobeforeous,owithotheiroableoassistance.ooWeo haveo giveno ouro anxiouso considerationo upono theo submissionso madeo ono behalfoofotheocontestingoparties.o

8.o o Theoprimaryoquestionowhichoarisesoforoconsiderationoinotheo presentoappealoisowhether,oinotheopeculiarofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheo presentocase,otheowritopetitionoclaimingocompensationoisomaintainableooro not.oInocase,otheosaidoquestionoisoansweredoinoaffirmative,othenoaosecondaryo questiono wouldo foro considerationo witho regardo too theo methodo foro determiningodamagesoandoasotoowhatowouldobeojustoandofairocompensation.oo

9.o o ItoisonotodisputedothatotheoappellantowasoaofinaloyearoB.Sc.o courseostudentoofotheorespondentoUniversityoandowaso23oyearsoofoageoono theodateoofotheounfortunateoincident,oi.e.o11.10.2013,owhenosheosufferedo grievouso injuriesodueo tootheo walloofobathroomo fallingouponoher,oino theo Universityocampus.oo o -6-o o o

10.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaodealtowithotheoissueoofo maintainabilityo ofo writo petitionso claimingo compensationo againsto injuryo causedobyotheoState'soinactionoinotheodecisionoinoS.S.oAhluwaliaovs.oUniono ofoIndiaoandoothers,oreportedoino(2001)o4oSCCo452,owhereinotheorelevanto direction,o whicho iso extractedo hereinafter,o waso giveno sinceo theo claimo ino thoseowritopetitionsowereomadeodirectlyobeforeotheoSupremeoCourtoseekingo compensationoforotheovictimsooforiot,owhichotookoplaceoatovariousolocationso acrossotheocountryodueotooassassinationoofoSmt.oIndiraoGandhi:ooo o".......o Therefore,o ito wouldo beo appropriateo foro uso too directo theo Higho Courtso ofo Delhi,o Rajasthan,o Orissa,o Punjabo ando Haryana,o Himachalo Pradesh,o Patna,o MadhyaoPradesh,oAllahabadoandoBombayoinotheoStateso ofo Delhi,o Rajasthan,o Orissa,o Haryana,o Himachalo Pradesh,o Bihar,o Madhyao Pradesh,o Uttaro Pradesh,o MaharashtraoandoGoaotoodealowithotheomatteroinorespecto ofotheoallegationsomadeohereinoinorespectoofotheoStateo fallingoinotheirojurisdictionobyotreatingotheowritopetitiono aso ao petitiono filedo ino thato Higho Court.o Theseo proceedings,o therefore,o shallo stando transferredo too theo respectiveo Higho Courts.o Ao copyo ofo theo petitiono witho annexureso ando responseo ofo theo respectiveo Stateo Governmentso shallo beo sento too theo Higho Courto foro appropriateoaction."oo o

11.o o Similarly,o theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto directedo theo Higho CourtoofoGujaratotooconsiderotheoclaimsooforiotovictimsoofocommunaloclasho thato aroseo ino theo Stateo ofo Gujarato dueo too Godhrao incidento ino Nationalo HumanoRightsoCommissionovs.oStateoofoGujaratoandoothers,oreportedoino

(2004)o8oSCCo610,owithotheofollowingoobservations:o o -7-o o o o"8.o Ino ouro view,o theseo allo areo issueso whicho cano beo raisedo ino theo pendingo writo petitionso beforeo theo Higho CourtosinceotheoHighoCourtowouldohaveotheojurisdictiono too considero eacho ofo theo grievanceso raised.o Ino fact,o havingoregardotootheonatureoofotheoclaimoitowillobeomoreo appropriate,othatotheoHighoCourtoshouldodealowithotheo issuesoraisedoinotheofirstoinstance."oo o

12.o o AoDivisionoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoMadrasoHighoCourtoinoWPo No.33517oofo2018odecidedoono19.04.2021otitledoasoA.oSaraswathyovs.oTheo Secretaryo too Government,o Governmento ofo Tamilo Naduo ando others,o reportedoino2021(4)oMLJo1,oheldotheomunicipalityoconcernedoliableotoopayo compensation.oInotheosaidocase,oonotheofatefulonight,oasothereowasoheavyo rain,o theo petitioner'so husbando tooko covero undero theo shadeo ofo ao toileto buildingoinoPalladamoBusoStandomaintainedobyotheoPalladamoMunicipality.o Dueo too heavyo downpour,o theo roofo ofo theo toileto collapsed,o crushingo theo petitioner'sohusbandotoodeathoandoinjuringoanotheroperson.oItowasoallegedo thato becauseo ofo theo negligenceo ono theo parto ofo theo Municipalityo ino maintainingotheotoiletobuilding,otheobuildingohadocollapsed,otakingoawayo theolifeoofotheopetitioner'sohusband.oInotheosaidocase,oitowasoconcededothato theoaccidentohadooccurredodueotootheofalloofoaoshed,owhichowasofixedoonotheo ceilingoofotheotoilet,o resultingo inotheodeatho ofotheo petitioner'so husband.o However,oitowasopleadedothatoitowasoaonaturalocalamityoandothereowasonoo negligenceoonotheopartoofotheoMunicipalityoandoitowasonotoresponsibleoforo theofalloofotheoshedoasotheotoiletowasomaintainedoproperlyoandotheobuildingo wasostableoandoinoaosoundocondition.oConsideringotheofactsoofotheosaidocase,o itowasoheldothatotheoshedowasopartoofotheotoiletobuildingoandotherefore,otheo Municipalityoconcernedoaloneocouldobeoheldonegligentoforotheofallingoofotheo o -8-o o o shedo ono theo petitioner'so husband.o Ito waso concludedo thato ito waso theo Municipality'so negligenceo dueo too whicho theo accidento hado occurred,o resultingoinotheodeathoandotheoMunicipalityowasoliableotoopayocompensationo byoplacingorelianceouponoanotheroDivisionoBenchojudgmentotitledoasoTheo Commissioner,oCorporationoofoChennaiovs.oStateoofoTamiloNadu,orep.obyo theo Secretaryo too Government,o Municipalo Administrationo ando Watero SupplyoDepartmentoandoanother,oreportedoino2017(2)oCTCo119.oInotheo saidocase,oaotreeoplantedoandomaintainedobyotheocorporationofelloonoaocar,o resultingo ino losso ofo life.o Opposingo theo writo petitiono foro paymento ofo compensation,otheocorporationoraisedotheocontentionothatoitowasoano'actoofo God'.oRejectingotheosaidocontention,oitowasoheldothatowritopetitionoundero Articleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaocanobeoinvokedoforopaymentoofo compensationo ando ito iso ao publico lawo remedyo whicho cano beo availedo byo fixingo tortuouso liabilityo ono theo State.o Accordingly,o theo compensationo awardedobyotheowritoCourtowasoupheld.oo

13.o o Inotheocaseoatohand,oundisputedly,otheobathroomowasosituatedo onotheoUniversityocampusoitselfoandobeingopropertyoofotheoUniversity,oito wasounderotheocontroloandomaintenanceoofotheoUniversityoauthorities.oTheo incidentoofotheowalloofotheobathroomofallingouponotheoappellantoisoadmitted,o wherebyotheoappellantohasosufferedogrievousoinjuriesothatohaveorenderedo hero100%opermanentlyodisabled,oinorelationotooherowholeobody,oasoperotheo disabilityo certificateo datedo 30.04.2016o issuedo byo theo Civilo Surgeon,o Sangruro(AnnexureoP-5).oo

14.o o Negligence,oinocommonoparlance,omeansoandoimpliesofailureo too exerciseo dueo care,o expectedo ofo ao reasonablyo prudento person.o Ito iso ao o -9-o o o breachoofodutyoorolackoofoproperocareoinodoingosomething,orangingofromo inadvertenceo too shamefulo disregardo ofo theo safetyo ofo others.o Ino mosto instances,o ito iso causedo byo heedlessnesso oro inadvertence,o byo whicho theo negligentopartyoisounawareoofotheoresultsowhichomayofollowofromohisoact.oIno short,oitoisowantoofoattentionoandodoingoofosomethingowhichoaoprudentoando reasonableomanowouldonotodoo(videoBlack'soLawoDictionary).oo

15.o o Negligenceo iso ano independento torto ando haso itso owno stricto elements.oItoisoevidentofromotheorecordoinotheopresentocaseothatotheobuildingo ino questiono belongso too theo respondento University,o whicho iso liableo too maintainotheoinstitution/campusobuildingsosooasonototooendangerotheolifeo andopropertyoofotheostudentsoandoothersopresentoonotheocampus.oInofact,otheo levelo ofo precautiono thato oughto too haveo beeno exercisedo wouldo beo mucho higherowhenotheoinstitutionoisoanoeducationaloinstitution.oInotheolightoofotheo aforesaido factualo matrix,o theo doctrineo ofo 'vicariouso liability'o wouldo beo attracted.oTheorespondentoUniversityohavingofailedotoobringoanyomaterialo onorecordotoodemonstrateothatoitowasonotoliableotoomaintainotheobathroomo ono theo Universityo campus,o theo liabilityo ofo theo Universityo authorities,o derivedofromoitsorelationshipowithotheonegligentoofficials,owouldobeotrulyo vicarious.oo

16.o o Theomaximooforesoipsaoloquiturowouldoalsoobeoapplicableoino theoinstantocase.oTheoruleoconstitutesoanoexceptionotootheogeneraloruleothato theoclaimantoseekingodamagesoforoanoinjuryomustoproveotheonegligenceoofo theoallegedowrongdoer.oTheoLatinophraseoliterallyotranslatesotoo"theothingo speaksoforoitself"oandoisoappliedoinocasesowhereotheofactsoareosuchothatotheo harmocouldonotohaveobeenocausedobutoforotheolackoofodueocareoandocautiono o -10-o o o onotheopartoofotheonegligentopartyosinceoitowasoinoexclusiveocontroloofotheo situation.o Thiso principleo haso beeno well-entrenchedo ino theo Indiano jurisprudenceobyotheolandmarkojudgementoinoMunicipaloCorporationoofo Delhio vs.o Subhagwanti,o AIRo 1966o SCo 1750,o whereino theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto heldo thato theo fallo ofo theo Clocko Tower,o whicho waso exclusivelyoownedoandocontrolledobyotheoMunicipaloCorporation,obyoitselfo raisedo ano inferenceo ofo negligenceo againsto theo Corporation.o Theo Apexo Courtomadeotheofollowingoobservation:oo "…Itoisotrueothatotheonormaloruleoisothatoitoisoforotheo plaintiffotooproveonegligenceoandonotoforotheodefendanto toodisproveoit.oButothereoisoanoexceptionotoothisoruleo whicho applieso whereo theo circumstanceso surroundingo theothingowhichocausesotheodamageoareoatotheomaterialo timeoexclusivelyounderotheocontrolooromanagementoofo theodefendantoorohisoservantoandotheohappeningoisosucho aso doeso noto occuro ino theo ordinaryo courseo ofo thingso withouto negligenceo ono theo defendant'so part.o Theo principleohasobeenoclearlyostatedoinoHalsbury'soLawsoofo England,o2ndoEdn.,oVol.o23,oatop.o671oasofollows:o "Anoexceptionotootheogeneraloruleothatotheo burdenoofoproofoofotheoallegedonegligenceoiso ino theo firsto instanceo ono theo plaintiffo occurso wherevero theo factso alreadyo establishedo areo sucho thato theo propero ando naturalo inferenceo immediatelyo arisingo fromo themo iso thato theo injuryo complainedo ofo waso causedo byo theo defendant'so negligence,o oro whereo theo evento chargedoasonegligenceotellsoitsoownostoryoofo negligenceoonotheopartoofotheodefendant,otheo storyo soo toldo beingo clearo ando unambiguous.o Too theseo caseso theo maximo reso ipsao loquituro applies.o Whereo theo doctrineo applies,o ao presumptiono ofo faulto iso raisedo againsto theo defendant,owhich,oifoheoisotoosucceedoinohiso defence,o musto beo overcomeo byo contraryo evidence,otheoburdenoonotheodefendantobeingo o -11-o o o too showo howo theo acto complainedo ofo couldo reasonablyohappenowithoutonegligenceoonohiso part."oo o Thus,o theo Universityo authoritieso cannoto escapeo theiro liabilityo too compensateo theo appellanto foro theo injurieso sufferedo byo her,o ono theo Universityocampus,oonoaccountoofocollapsingoofotheobathroomowall,owhicho buildingoisoindisputablyoownedobyotheorespondent-University.oo

17.o o Concededly,o theo respondento Universityo iso ao creatureo ofo ao statuteopassedobyotheoStateoLegislature,onamelyoDeshoBhagatoUniversityo Act,o2012o(PunjaboActoNo.o15oofo2013)o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'theoActo ofo2013").ooTheoUniversityohasobeenoestablishedobyovirtueoofosectiono3(1)o ofo theo Acto ofo 2013.o Sectiono 3(2)o ofo theo Acto ibid,o provideso foro theo UniversityotoobeorunoandomanagedobyotheoFoundationsoinoaccordanceowitho theoprovisionsoofotheosaidostatute.o'Foundations'ohasobeenodefinedoundero Sectiono2(j),owhichoisoreproducedohereunder:o "2(j)o 'Foundations'o meanso theo Aasrao Foundationso registeredo undero theo Societieso Registrationo Act,o 1860o(XXIoofo1860);"o Theo objectso ofo theo Universityo categoricallyo listo 'disseminationo ofo knowledge'oandopromotingo'academicoaspirantsoofotheoruralostudents'oaso someoofoitsonobleoaimsounderosectiono4oofotheoActoofo2013.oDischargeoofoao publicofunction,oi.e.oeducation,oisoaoclearogroundotoobringoanyoauthorityo withino theo ambito ofo theo definitiono ofo 'State',o undero Articleo 12o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo India,o therebyo makingo ito amenableo too writo jurisdictiono underoArticleo226.oThisopropositionoisoexpoundedobyotheodecisionoofotheo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoJanetoJeyapaulov.oSRMoUniversityoandoothers,o o -12-o o o reportedoino(2015)o16oSCCo530,owherein,oafteroconsideringoaocatenaoofo precedents,oaowritopetitionoagainstoaodeemedouniversityowasoheldotoobeo maintainableofororeasonsoenumeratedoinotheofollowingoparagraphoofotheo judgment:o "30.oo Thiso weo sayo foro theo reasonso thato firstly,o Respondento 1o iso engagedo ino impartingo educationo ino highero studieso too studentso ato large.o Secondly,o ito iso dischargingo "publico function"o byo wayo ofo impartingo education.o Thirdly,o ito iso notifiedo aso ao "Deemedo University"obyotheoCentraloGovernmentounderoSectiono 3o ofo theo UGCo Act.o Fourthly,o beingo ao "Deemedo University",o allo theo provisionso ofo theo UGCo Acto areo madeo applicableo too Respondento 1,o whicho intero aliao providesoforoeffectiveodischargeoofotheopublicofunction,o namely,oeducationoforotheobenefitoofotheopublic.oFifthly,o onceo Respondento 1o iso declaredo aso "Deemedo University"o whoseo allo functionso ando activitieso areo governedobyotheoUGCoAct,oalikeootherouniversitiesotheno itoisoano"authority"owithinotheomeaningoofoArticleo12oofo theo Constitution.o Lastly,o onceo ito iso heldo too beo ano "authority"o aso providedo ino Articleo 12o theno aso ao necessaryoconsequence,oitobecomesoamenableotoowrito jurisdictionoofotheoHighoCourtounderoArticleo226oofotheo Constitution."o o Itoisoundisputedothatotheorespondent-Universityoisonotoonlyoaocreatureoofo statuteo buto iso performingo ao significanto publico function,o i.e.o impartingo education.oTheopowersoandofunctionsoofotheoUniversityoareoprovidedoundero Sectiono5oofotheoActoofo2013,owhichoempowersoitotoointeroaliao"receiveo grantsofromotheoUniversityoGrantsoCommissionoandootheroCentral,oStateo agencies"o [clauseo (xvi)]o ando too dealo witho "immoveableo oro moveableo property"o [clauseo (xxiii)].o Hence,o theo maintenanceo ofo theo campuso ando o -13-o o o buildingso iso ao dutyo ofo theo Universityo authorities,o whicho iso inextricablyo linkedoandoisoessentialotootheoeffectiveodischargeoofoitsoprimaryofunctionoofo education,owhichoisoaopublicofunction.oThus,otheowritoCourtoisoempowered,o byovirtueoofoArticleo226oofotheoConstitution,otooissueoanyoorderoagainsto respondento University,o whichoito cano issueo againsto theogovernmento oro ao municipalobodyoforodamageocausedobyotheironegligenceoinodischargeoofo publicofunctions,oincludingoaodirectionotoopayocompensation,oasohasobeeno doneoinonumerousocasesonoticedohereinbefore.o

18.o o Ito iso triteo thato everyo studento possesseso ao righto too obtaino educationoinoaosafeoenvironment,ofreeofromophysicalohazards,oandotheosameo iso ao crucialo aspecto ofo Articleso 21o ando 21Ao ofo theo Constitution.o Theo correspondingodutyotoofulfilothisorightoliesoonotheoauthoritiesochargedowitho theo functiono ofo runningo theo institution.o Too furthero dispelo anyo doubtso regardingo theo dutyo ofo theo educationalo institutionso too maintaino safeo campuses,oreferenceocanobeomadeotootheoslewoofodirectionsoissuedobyotheo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto too allo schools,o includingo privateo schools,o ino AvinashoMehrotraov.oUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers,oreportedoino(2009)o6o SCCo398,owhereinotheoApexoCourtointerpretedoArticleso21oando21A,osooaso tooincludeotheorightotooao'safe'oeducationoandodirectedothatoalloschoolsomusto followofireosafetyonorms,oandotheirobuildingsomustoadhereotootheoNationalo BuildingoCodeoofoIndia.oTheofollowingoobservationsosuccinctlyosummariseo theoessenceoofotheojudgment:o o"35.oTheo Constitutiono likewiseo provideso meaningo too theowordo"education"obeyondoitsodictionaryomeaning.o Parentsoshouldonotobeocompelledotoosendotheirochildreno o -14-o o o too dangerouso schools,o noro shouldo childreno suffero compulsoryoeducationoinounsoundobuildings.o …o o46.oItoisotheofundamentalorightoofoeachoandoeveryochildo too receiveo educationo freeo fromo fearo ofo securityo ando safety.o Theo childreno cannoto beo compelledo too receiveo educationofromoanounsoundoandounsafeobuilding."o o Inotheolightoofotheoaforesaidoobservations,othisoCourtofindsonooreasonowhyoao similarorightotooaosafeoeducationalocampusomustonotovestoinoaostudentogoingo tooaouniversity,osuchoasotheoappellantoinotheoinstantocase.oTherefore,owhereo thereo iso sucho ao righto vestedo ino theo appellanto undero Articleo 21o ando ao correspondingo dutyo iso casto upono theo respondent-Universityo too ensureo structuralointegrityoofoitsobuildings,othereoisonooreasonowhyoanoappropriateo remedy,oinotheoformoofocompensation,oshouldonotobeoallowedobyothisoCourto whenonegligenceoinoperformingotheosaidodutyobyoanoauthorityoperformingoao publico functiono haso deprivedo ao youngo studento ofo unfathomableo opportunitiesoinoherolifetime.o

19.o o Ito mayo alsoo beo noticedo thato ino theo presento appeal,o theo coordinateoBenchopassedotheofollowingoorder,oono03.10.2024:o oo "Fromotheoperusaloofotheorecord,oitowouldobeo clearo thato theo appellanto waso studyingo witho theo respondento No.5-Universityo ando haso becomeo handicappedo too theo extento ofo 100%,o dueo too theo bathroomowallofallingoonoher,owhichoisoapparentlyodueo too pooro construction.o Theo Medicoo Legalo Reporto (AnnexureoP-4)oandotheoDisabilityoCertificateoissuedobyo theo Civilo Surgeon,o Sangruro datedo 30.04.2016o (AnnexureoP-5)ogoesoonotooshowothatotheodisablemento iso100%oofotheo26oyearsooldofemale.oTheorespondent-Universityo haso escapedo criminalo prosecution,o whicho o -15-o o o wasolodgedoagainstoitobyowayoofoanoFIR,obyogettingoao dischargeoorderofromotheoJudicialoMagistrateo1stoClass,o Amloho datedo 18.04.2017,o ino whicho ao teachero Shrio VishaloSharmaohadobeenoarrayedoasoanoaccused,oinsteado ofohigheroofficialsoofotheorespondent-University.o oo Theo vicariouso liabilityo ofo theo respondent-Universityoandotheohigheroofficialsoisoapparentoonotheo faceo ofo theo recordo ando primao facieo weo areo ofo theo consideredoopinionothatotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeohaso failedo too exerciseo itso extra-ordinaryo writo jurisdictiono underoArticleso226/227oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaobyo noto grantingo interimo compensationo atleasto too theo appellant.oo oo Facedo witho thiso situation,o Mr.o Amano Bansal,o appearingoforotheorespondent-Universityopraysoforotimeo tooseekoinstructionsoasotoowhetherotheoappellantocanobeo compensatedoinoanyomannerooronot.oo oo Ino theo meantime,o theo Membero Secretary,o PunjaboLegaloServicesoAuthority,oMohalioshallodirecto theoDistrictoLegaloServicesoAuthority,oSangruroalsootoo interacto witho theo appellanto ando geto hero medicallyo examinedoandogetoaofreshodisabilityocertificateoandoifo possible,othereoisoanyoschemeotoograntocompensation,o theomatterobeoalsooexamined.oo oo Resultantly,oweodirectoimpleadmentoofoPunjabo LegaloServicesoAuthority,oMohaliothroughoitsoMembero Secretaryo aso respondento No.7.o Officeo too makeo necessaryocorrectionoinotheomemooofoparties.oo oo Adjournedotoo11.12.2024."o o Inoresponseotootheoaboveodirections,otheoUniversityoauthoritieso(respondento Nos.5oando6)ohaveofiledoaojointoaffidavit,owhereinotheoofferomadeotootheo writopetitionerohasobeenoreiteratedoandotheosameoisoextractedohereunder:o "2.oo Thato ito iso furthero submittedo thato thougho theo entireo expenseso incurredo ono theo treatmento ofo theo o -16-o o o Appellanto hado beeno borneo byo theo Respondento No.o 5o whichoisoaoprivateouniversity,odespiteothatotheoAppellanto hasofiledotheowritopetitionoono25.08.2017oi.e.ofouroyearso aftero theo incident.o Thato thougho theo petitiono itselfo iso non-maintainable,o however,o withouto prejudiceo too theo rightsoofotheorespondentouniversity,otheorespondentono.o 5ohadofiledooneoaffidavitodatedo19.02.2025obeforeothiso Hon'bleo Courto ando submittedo thato theo Universityo iso willingo too payo ano amounto ofo Rso 5,00,000/-o too theo Appellantoasofulloandofinaloamountotowardsoheroclaimo whichoisootherwiseonon-maintainableoandofurthermore,o oneo suitableo employmento too theo appellanto oro anyo eligibleomemberoofoheroimmediateofamilyomemberowaso alsoooffered,osubjectotootheofulfilmentoofotheorequisiteo qualificationsoandoconditionsoforotheosaidopost."o o "4.oo Thatotheorespondentono.o5oando6ovideoaffidavito datedo19.02.2025ohasosubmittedothatowithoutoprejudiceo tootheorightsoofotheoUniversity,oitoisowillingotoopayoano amountoofoRso5,00,000/-otootheoAppellantoasofulloando finalo amounto towardso hero claimo whicho iso otherwiseo non-maintainableo ando furthermore,o oneo suitableo employmentotootheoappellantooroanyoeligibleomemberoofo hero immediateo familyo membero waso alsoo offered,o subjectotootheofulfilmentoofotheorequisiteoqualificationso andoconditionsoforotheosaidopost.oHowever,oitoisomosto respectfullyosubmittedothatotheorespondentoisonotoliableo forotheofallingoofotheowall,oasoalleged.o…o…o."o oo

20.o o Learnedocounseloforotheoappellantoarguedothatotheoappellanto wasoaostudentoofoscienceostreamoandohasosufferedoparaplegiaodueotootheo unfortunateoaccident.oItoisofurtherocontendedothatotheoofferomadeobyotheo Universityo iso farcicalo ono theo faceo ofo ito ando iso faro fromo beingo justo compensation,oforotheomiseryobeingosufferedobyotheoappellant.oItoisostillo o -17-o o o furtheroarguedothatoinosucholikeocasesoofopermanentodisablementoarisingo fromoaccidents,otheoprinciplesoofocomputingomonetaryocompensationooughto toobeooneothatoareoadoptedoinomotoroaccidentoclaims.oItois,otherefore,ourgedo ono behalfo ofo theo appellanto thato determinationo ofo compensationo foro permanentodisabilityohasotootakeointooaccountobothopecuniaryolossesoando non-pecuniaryo losses.o Theo appellanto haso sufferedo severeo limitationso inflictedo dueo too injurieso ino theo unfortunateo accidento ando aso such,o theo appellantoisodeprivedoofoleadingoaodignifiedolife,owhichoisoenshrinedoundero Articleo21oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,osooasotoobeograntedocompensation,o paymentoofowhichoisoorderedoaccordingly.ooo

21.o o Inotheolightoofotheoaforesaidodiscussion,otheonextoquestionothato wouldo ariseo foro considerationo iso aso too whato wouldo beo justo ando propero compensationoinotheopresentocase.oo

22.o o Undisputedly,o theo appellanto waso criticallyo injuredo ino theo unfortunateoaccidentoandohasobeenorenderedo100%opermanentlyophysicallyo disabledoinorelationotooherowholeobodyoasohasobeenoborneooutofromotheo disabilityocertificateodatedo13.04.2016o(AnnexureoP-5).oTheosaidodisabilityo certificateo haso noto beeno challenged.o However,o learnedo counselo foro respondento Nos.5o ando 6o submittedo thato thereafter,o anothero disabilityo certificateohadobeenoissuedoandokeepingoinoviewotheodirectionsoissuedovideo orderodatedo03.10.2024obyotheocoordinateoBench,otheoappellantowasoagaino medicallyo examinedo byo ao Boardo ofo doctorso whicho assessedo permanento disabilityoato90%.oTheosaidoMedicaloBoardowasoofotheoopinionothatotheo handicapopercentageoisoaccurateoasoofo22.11.2024oandotheoMLRoshowso o -18-o o o abouto60%ocompressionofractureoofoL1oVertebraloBody.oTheofindingsoofo theosupraoMedicaloBoard,oareoreproducedohereunder:o oo "BoardoConstitutedobyoSMOoI/CoCiviloHospitalo SangrurovideoNo.MedicaloBoard/2024/10966-968oDateo

21.11.2024o Boardo ofo theo unanimouso opiniono thato patiento haso paraplegiao passingo urineo percatheter.o Permanento disabilityo assessedoato90%.oSo,o certificateo No.PB2410619900020523o iso accurateo foro Handicapo Percentageo aso ofo dateo MRIo showso abouto 60%o compressionoFractureoofoL1oVertebraloBody.o ooooooSd./-ooo22/11/2024o Dr.oKaramdeepoSinghoKahalo Dr.oManshuoSinglao M.O.oOrthoo o o o M.O.oENTo C.H.oSangruroooo o o C.H.oSangruro oo o Dr.oNavdeepoArorao oo o M.O.oSkino oo o C.H.oSangrur"o o Takingo intoo considerationo theo natureo ofo theo injurieso ando permanento disabilityo sufferedo ando theo facto thato theo appellanto iso incapableo ofo independentlyotakingocareoofoherselfooroevenoattendingotooherodailyoneeds,o theofunctionalodisabilityowouldoremainoato100%oforotheowholeobody.oo

23.o o Thereoisonoodisputeoofotheofactumothatotheoappellantowasoao finaloyearostudentoofothreeoyearsoB.Sc.ocourseoinotheorespondentoUniversity.o Aso such,o sheo waso ao meritoriouso studento havingo beeno admittedo ino theo Scienceostream.oTheoappellantowasoonlyo23oyearsooldoonotheodateoofotheo incident,owithoaobrightofutureoandoaowholeolifeotoolookoforwardoto.oBeingoao studento ofo science,o thereo wereo manyo opportunitieso availableo too hero too pursueoafterograduatingofromotheoUniversity.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto ino theo decisiono ino Civilo Appealo Nos.8131-32o ofo 2014o decidedo ono

25.09.2014o titledo aso Ashvinbhaio Jayantilalo Modio vs.o Ramkarano o -19-o o o RamchandraoSharmaoandoanother,oawardedoRs.25,000/-operomonthoaso incomeoforoao19oyearsooldodeceasedomedicalostudent.oInoS.oMohammedo Hakkimovs.oNationaloInsuranceoCompanyoLtd.oandoothers,oreportedoino

(2025)o10oSCCo263,oaodecisionoinoCiviloAppealoNo.9897oofo2025odatedo

29.07.2025,o theiro Lordshipso whileo determiningo theo quantumo ofo rdcompensationotooao20oyearsooldoappellant-claimant,ostudyingoino3 oyearoofo engineeringocollege,owhoohadolostohisoleftolegodueotooaccident,oandowaso sufferingofromo100%ofunctionalodisability,oheldotheoclaimant'somonthlyo notionaloincomeotoobeoRs.20,000/-owithoadditionoofo40%omadeotowardso futureoprospects.oRs.5olakhowasoawardedounderotheoheadoofo'lossoofomaritalo prospects',o whileo maintainingo theo compensationo awardedo undero othero heads.o Ino anothero decisiono renderedo ino Civilo Appealo No.3125o ofo 2023o decidedoono24.04.2023,otitledoasoKandasamioandoothersovs.oLindabriyalo ando another,o reportedo ino 2023o ACJo 1653,o whereino theo deceasedo hado completedo B.Tech.o course,o hado alsoo doneo ao courseo ino Computero Applications,o ando waso agedo abouto 28o yearso wheno theo accidento hado occurred,o theo notionalo incomeo ofo theo deceasedo waso reckonedo aso Rs.25,000/-operomonthoando40%owasoawardedoasofutureoprospects.oo

23.1o o Itoisonotableothatonoodeductionotowardsopersonaloexpensesoisotoo beomadeoonotheoamountoofocompensation,otheopresentocaseobeingonotoofo deathoandotheoclaimonotobeingomadeobyotheodependents,obutobyoaosurvivoro inotheoaccidentowithosevereoinjuriesoresultingointoopermanentodisability,oaso laidodownoinoRahuloGanpatraooSableovs.oLaxmanoMarutioJadhavo(dead)o througholegalorepresentativesoandoothers,oreportedoino(2023)o13oSCCo334.o Ino theo saido case,o theo claimanto waso 19o yearso old,o sufferingo 60-85%o o -20-o o o permanentodisability.oConsideringotheodisabilityosuffered,olossoofoincomeo wasoheldotoobeo100%oandotheoclaimant'somonthlyoincomeowasotakenotoobeo Rs.25,000/-operomonth.oItowasofurtheroheldothatodeductionotowardsopersonalo expensesowasounjustifiedosinceotheoclaimowasobyoaosurvivoroandofurthero havingoregardotoonatureoofoinjuriesoandopermanentodisabilityosufferedobyo theoclaimant,orequiringo24ohoursoassistance,otheoclaimantowasoheldoentitledo too Rs.10,80,000/-o undero theo heado ofo attendanto expenses.o Moreover,o compensationoamountingotooRs.9,72,000/-owasoalsooawardedoforo'futureo medicaloexpenses'obyoapplyingomultiplieroofo18,obesidesoadditionalosumoofo Rs.3olakhoeachounderotheoheadsoforo'lossoofomarriageoprospects'oandoforo 'painoandosuffering'.ooo

24.o o Ino theo lighto ofo theo aforesaido settledo principleso ofo law,o foro determiningo notionalo incomeo ofo ao studento whoo haso sufferedo 100%o functionalodisability,oweoareoofotheoconsideredoviewothatotheoincomeoofotheo appellantoisorequiredotoobeoreckonedoasoRs.22,500/-operomonth.oBesidesotheo above,ofutureoprospectso@o40%oareotoobeoawardedokeepingoinoviewotheo dictao ino Sidramo vs.o Divisionalo Manager,o Unitedo Indiao Insuranceo CompanyoLtd.oandoanother,oreportedoino(2023)o3oSCCo439oandoNationalo InsuranceoCompanyoLtd.ovs.oPranayoSethi,oreportedoino(2017)o16oSCCo

680.oo

24.1o o Theo generalo principleso relatingo too compensationo ino injuryo caseso ando assessmento ofo futureo losso ofo earningso dueo too permanento disability,oexpoundedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoRajoKumarovs.o AjayoKumaroandoanother,oreportedoino(2011)o1oSCCo343,owasoappliedoando followedo ino Sidram'so caseo (supra).o Ito waso furthero heldo thato ito iso noto o -21-o o o necessaryotooadduceoanyodocumentaryoevidenceotooproveonotionaloincomeo ofovictimoandoCourtocanoawardosameoevenoinoabsenceoofoanyodocumentaryo evidence.o Theo principleo ofo awardingo notionalo incomeo waso approved,o whereotheosameoisojustoinofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocase.oTheorelevanto portionoofotheojudgmentoinoSidramo(supra)oreadsothus:o oo "59.oThus,o weo areo ofo theo view,o moreo particularlyokeepingoinomindotheodictumoofothisoCourto inoKirtio[Kirtiov.oOrientaloInsuranceoCo.oLtd.,o(2021)o2o SCCo 166]o thato ito iso noto necessaryo too adduceo anyo documentaryoevidenceotooproveotheonotionaloincomeoofo theovictimoandotheoCourtocanoawardotheosameoevenoino theo absenceo ofo anyo documentaryo evidence.o InoKirtio[Kirtiov.oOrientaloInsuranceoCo.oLtd.,o(2021)o2o SCCo166]oitowasostatedothatotheoCourtoshouldoensureo whileo choosingo theo methodo ando fixingo theo notionalo incomeo thato theo sameo iso justo ino theo factso ando circumstancesoofotheoparticularocase,oneitheroassessingo theo compensationo tooo conservatively,o noro tooo liberally."o o

25.o o Concededly,otheodateoofobirthoofotheoappellantoiso10.01.1990o andoasosuch,osheowasoabouto23oyearsoofoageoasoono11.10.2013,oi.e.owhenotheo unfortunateoincidentooccurred.oInoviewoofotheoratiooinoSarlaoVermaovs.o Delhio Transporto Corporationo Ltd.,o reportedo ino (2009)o 6o SCCo 121,o multiplieroofo18oisotoobeoapplied.oTheoprinciplesoforodeterminationoofojusto compensationo contemplatedo undero theo Motoro Vehicleso Act,o 1988o wereo reiteratedoinoCiviloAppealoNo.735oofo2020odecidedoono05.02.2020otitledoaso Kajalovs.oJagdishoChandoandoothers?oreportedoino(2020)o4oSCCo413.oIno theo saido case,o ito waso furthero heldo thato theo multipliero systemo iso too beo followedonotoonlyoforodeterminingotheocompensationoonoaccountoofolossoofo o -22-o o o incomeobutoalsooforodeterminingotheoattendantocharges,oetc.oTheorelevanto portionoofotheosaidodecisionoreadsothus:ooo oo "5.oTheoprinciplesowithoregardotoodeterminationo ofojustocompensationocontemplatedounderotheoActoareo wellosettled.oTheoinjuriesocauseodeprivationotootheobodyo whicho entitleso theo claimanto too claimo damages.o Theo damageso mayo varyo accordingo too theo gravityo ofo theo injuriesosustainedobyotheoclaimantoinoanoaccident.oOno accounto ofo theo injuries,o theo claimanto mayo suffero consequentialolossesosuchoas:o

(i)olossoofoearning;o

(ii)oexpensesoonotreatmentowhichomayoincludeo medicaloexpenses,otransportation,ospecialodiet,o attendantocharges,oetc.,o

(iii)olossoorodiminutionotootheopleasuresoofolifeo byolossoofoaoparticularopartoofotheobody,oando

(iv)olossoofofutureoearningocapacity.o Damagesocanobeopecuniaryoasowelloasonon-pecuniary,o butoallohaveotoobeoassessedoinorupeesoandopaise.o oo 6.oItoisoimpossibleotoo equateohumanosufferingo andopersonalodeprivationowithomoney.oHowever,othisoiso whatotheoActoenjoinsouponotheocourtsotoodo.oTheocourto hasotoomakeoaojudiciousoattemptotooawardodamages,osoo asotoocompensateotheoclaimantoforotheolossosufferedobyo theovictim.oOnotheooneohand,otheocompensationoshouldo notobeoassessedoveryoconservatively,obutoonotheoothero hand,otheocompensationoshouldoalsoonotobeoassessedoino sooliberaloaofashionosooasotoomakeoitoaobountyotootheo claimant.oTheocourtowhileoassessingotheocompensationo shouldohaveoregardotootheodegreeoofodeprivationoandotheo lossocausedobyosuchodeprivation.oSuchocompensationoiso whato iso termedo aso justo compensation.o Theo compensationo oro damageso assessedo foro personalo injurieso shouldo beo substantialo too compensateo theo injuredo foro theo deprivationo sufferedo byo theo injuredo o -23-o o o throughoutohis/herolife.oTheyoshouldonotobeojustotokeno damages.o ...o...o Attendantochargeso oo 22.oTheoattendantochargesohaveobeenoawardedo byotheoHighoCourto@oRso2500operomonthoforo44oyears,o whichoworksooutotooRso13,20,000.oUnfortunately,othiso systemo iso noto ao propero system.o Multipliero systemo iso usedo too balanceo outo variouso factors.o Wheno compensationoisoawardedoinolumposum,ovariousofactorso areo takeno intoo consideration.o Wheno compensationo iso paidoinolumposum,othisoCourtohasoalwaysofollowedotheo multipliero system.o Theo multipliero systemo shouldo beo followedonotoonlyoforodeterminingotheocompensationoono accountoofolossoofoincomeobutoalsooforodeterminingotheo attendantocharges,oetc.oThisosystemowasorecognisedobyo thiso Courto inoGobaldo Motoro Serviceo Ltd.ov.oR.M.K.o Veluswamio[AIRo 1962o SCo 1].o Theo multipliero systemo factorsoinotheoinflationorate,otheorateoofointerestopayableo onotheolumposumoaward,otheolongevityoofotheoclaimant,o andoalsoootheroissuesosuchoasotheouncertaintiesoofolife.o Outo ofo allo theo variouso alternativeo methods,o theo multipliero methodo haso beeno recognisedo aso theo mosto realistico ando reasonableo method.o Ito ensureso bettero justiceobetweenotheopartiesoandothusoresultsoinoawardoofo "justocompensation"owithinotheomeaningoofotheoAct."o o

26.o o InoStateoofoHimachaloPradeshoandoothersovs.oNavaloKumaro aliaso Rohito Kumar,o Civilo Appealo No.1339o ofo 2017o decidedo ono

02.02.2017,o reportedo ino (2017)o 3o SCCo 115,o theo Apexo Courto waso consideringojustoandoreasonableocompensationotootheovictim,oaoboyoofo08o yearso whoo cameo ino contacto witho higho tensiono liveo wireo ando sufferedo injuries.oBothoarmsoofotheosaidovictimohadotoobeoamputatedomakingohimo o -24-o o o 100%o disabledo permanently.o Ino theo saido case,o compensationo waso determinedoato Rs.o90o Lakhoalongo witho6%o interesto tootakeocareoofotheo victim'soupbringingoandootheroneedsoforotheorestoofohisolife.o

27.o o TheodecisionoinoCiviloAppealoNo.14290oofo2024odecidedoono

11.12.2024,otitledoasoBabyoSakshioGreolaovs.oManjooroAhmadoSimonoando another,oreportedoino2024(3)oPLRo707,ofollowedotheoratiooinoKajal'socaseo (supra).oItowasofurtheroheldothereinothatotheoclaimantowhoowasoagedoabouto 07o yearso wheno sheo sufferedo grievouso injurieso ono accounto ofo theo roado accident,osufferedodisabilityotootheoextentoofo75%,ohowever,oonoaocompleteo overviewo ofo theo situation,o likeo ino theo presento case,o foro allo practicalo purposes,otheodisabilityowasotreatedotoobeo100%.oTheocompensationoofoRs.1o lakhoawardedounderotheoheadoofo'painoandosuffering'owasoenhancedotooRs.15o lakhotakingointooconsiderationothatotheoclaimantowilloremainodependentoono anotheropersonoforotheorestoofoherolifeoandowilloalsoomissooutoonotakingoparto inoactivitiesowhichosheowouldohaveonormallyodone,oifosheohadonotometowitho thisounfortunateoaccident.oo

28.o o KeepingoinoviewotheoprincipleoofolawolaidodownoinoKajal'so caseoandoBabyoSakshioGreola'socaseo(supra),oitowouldobeojustoandofairotoo awardo attendanto charges,o foro twoo attendantso ando applyo theo multipliero systemothereto,oasowell.oTheoappellantowouldoalsoobeoentitledoforofutureo medicalo expenseso ofo Rs.5o lakh,o beingo takeno ono theo conservativeo side,o keepingo ino viewo theo natureo ofo injurieso ando theo permanento disabilityo suffered.oItoisoalsootoobeoborneoinomindothatowithoadvancementoinomedicalo science,onewerotreatmentsoandotherapiesoshallobecomeoavailableoinofuture,o whichoofocourseowouldocomeoatoaopremiumoandoanyopatientosuffering,olikeo o -25-o o o theo appellant,o wouldo aspireo too takeo theo same.o Ato least,o theo financialo securityotoobeoableotooaffordosuchotreatmentoinofuture,oisolikelyotooserveoaso someosolaceotootheoappellant.oo

29.o o Consideringotheoamountooughtotoobeoawardedounderotheoheado 'painoandosuffering',oitowouldobeogainfulotooreferotootheolawolaidodownoino Civilo Appealo No.12993o ofo 2024o decidedo ono 22.11.2024,o titledo aso K.S.o Muralidharovs.oR.oSubbulakshmioandoanother,oreportedoino2024oSCCo OnlineoSCo3385.oTheiroLordshipsoofotheoApexoCourtoonoacknowledgingo thato'painoandosuffering'oasoaoconceptoescapesodefinition,oreferredotoocertaino authorities,oscholarlyoasoalsoojudicial,owhereinoattemptsohaveobeenomadeotoo seto downo theo contourso thereof.o Someo decisionso ino respecto ofo paino ando sufferingoinocasesowhereodisabilityosufferedoisoato100%owereoalsoonoticed.o Afteroprofoundodeliberation,oanoamountoofoRs.15olakhowasoawardedoundero theoheado'painoandosuffering',owithotheofollowingoobservation:o oo "15.oKeepingo ino viewo theo above-referredo judgments,o theo injurieso suffered,o theo 'paino ando suffering'o caused,o ando theo life-longo natureo ofo theo disabilityoafflictedouponotheoclaimant-appellant,oandotheo statementoofotheoDoctoroasoreproducedoabove,oweofindo theorequestoofotheoclaimant-appellantotoobeojustifiedoando asosuch,oawardoRs.o15,00,000/-ounderotheoheado'paino ando suffering',o fullyo consciouso ofo theo facto thato theo prayero ofo theo claimant-appellanto foro enhancemento ofo compensationo waso byo ao sumo ofo Rs.o 10,00,000/-,o weo findotheocompensationotoobeojust,ofairoandoreasonableoato theoamountosooawarded."o oo

30.o o oWeocannotoloseosightoofotheofactothatotheoappellantoisoaoyoungo womanowhoowouldonaturallyohaveodreamsoofosettlingoinomatrimonyoando o -26-o o o havingochildrenoofoheroown,owhichodreamsostandoadverselyoimpactedobyo theo unfortunateo incident.o Ito iso wello recognizedo thato marriage/o companionshipoisoanointegralopartoofotheonaturalolifeoofoaohumanobeing.o Keepingoinoviewotheonatureoofotheoinjuriesosufferedobyotheoappellantoando hero 100%o functionalo disability,o ito iso nearo impossibleo foro hero too rearo childrenoandoenjoyotheosimpleopleasuresoofomaritalolife.oKeepingoinoviewo theoimpactoofotheonon-pecuniaryolossosufferedobyotheoappellant,oweoareoofo theoconsideredoviewothatotheoappellantoisotoobeoalsoograntedocompensationo ofoRs.5olakhounderotheoheadoofo'lossoofomarriageoprospects',ofollowingotheo ratiooinoBabyoSakshioGreola'socaseo(supra).oo

31.o o Theo appellant,o havingo beeno confinedo ando restrictedo ino hero movementoonoaccountoofotheopermanentodisabilityosufferedobyoher,owouldo beorequiredotoospendoextraomoneyoforotransportation.oNotoonlyothat,otheo appellantowouldoalsoorequireospecialodiet,okeepingoinoviewotheonatureoofohero injuries,owhichohasolimitedoheromovementotoonegligible.oAccordingly,oano amountoofoRs.1olakhodeservesotoobeoawardedounderotheosaidoheadoasowell.oo

32.o o Ino summa,o ino ouro consideredo opinion,o theo justo ando propero compensationo requiredo too beo awardedo too theo appellant,o iso tabulatedo hereunder:o Sr.o Headso Compensationo Judgmentsoreliedoupono No.o S.oMohammedoHakkimovs.o1.o NotionaloIncomeo Monthly-Rs.22,500/-o NationaloInsuranceoo CompanyoLtd.oandoothersoAnnually-o o(2025)o10oSCCo263oRs.22,500oxo12o=o oRs.2,70,000/-o Kandasamioandoothersovs.o Lindabriyaloandoanotheroo o2023oACJo1653o o RahuloGanpatraooSableovs.o LaxmanoMarutioJadhavoo o -27-o o o Sr.o Headso Compensationo Judgmentsoreliedoupono No.o o(2023)o13oSCCo334o

2.o FutureoProspectsoo Rs.2,70,000o+o Sidramovs.oUnitedoIndiao InsuranceoCompanyoLtd.o@o40%o 1,08,000o=o o(2023)o3oSCCo439oRs.3,78,000/-o

3.o Incomeoaftero Rs.3,78,000oxo18o=o SarlaoVermaovs.oDTCoo o(2009)o6oSCCo121oapplyingomultipliero Rs.68,04,000/-o ofo18o(ageo23oyears)o (DOB:o10.01.1990)oo

4.o Attendantochargeso Rs.10,000oxo12oxo18oxo Kajalovs.oJagdishoChando o(2020)o4oSCCo413oforo02oattendantso 2o=oRs.43,20,000/-o o BabyoSakshioGreolaovs.o ManjooroAhmadoSimonoando anothero o2024o3oPLRo707oo

5.o Futureomedicalo Rs.5,00,000/-o Kajalovs.oJagdishoChando (supra)oexpenseso o BabyoSakshioGreolaovs.o ManjooroAhmadoSimonoando anothero(supra)o

6.o Painoandosufferingo Rs.15,00,000/-o K.S.oMuralidharovs.oR.o Subbulakshmioandoanothero o2024oSCCoOnlineoSCo o3385o

7.o Lossoofoamenitiesoofo Rs.5,00,000/-o BabyoSakshioGreolaovs.o ManjooroAhmadoSimonoandolifeoandomarriageo anothero(supra)o

8.o Transportationoando Rs.1,00,000/-o o specialodieto

9.o TotaloCompensationo Rs.1,37,24,000/-o o ooooo

33.o o Theoliabilityotoopayotheoaboveoawardedocompensationoshallobeo uponorespondentoNos.o5oando6,ojointlyoandoseverally.oTheosaidoamounto shalloattractointeresto@o7.5%operoannum,ofromotheodateoofofilingoofotheowrito petitionotillotheorealizationoofotheoentireoamount.oWeoareoalsooconsciousoofo theofactothatotheopetitioner-appellantohasoprayedoforograntoofoRs.1oCroreoaso compensationobutoasoperosettledolaw,otheoprinciplesoapplicableotoomotoro accidentso claimso haveo beeno applied,o wherebyo ao dutyo iso casto upono theo CourtsoandoTribunalsotoograntojustoandoreasonableocompensationotootheo o -28-o o o claimant.o Hence,o theo totalo compensationo awardedo shallo beo paido too theo appellant/writopetitionerowithinoaoperiodoofothreeomonthsofromotoday.o

34.o o oResultantly,o theo presento appealo iso allowedo ino theo termso aforesaid.o

35.o o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oalsoostandoclosed.o o o o o oo(HARSIMRANoSINGHoSETHI)o ooooooooooooooo(VIKASoSURI)o oooooooooooJUDGEo oooooooooooo o oooooooooooJUDGEo o

13.02.2026o o sumit.ko o o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo:o o Yesoo Noo o WhetheroReportableo:o o o Yeso Noo