The Civil Miscellaneous Appeal has been filed by the appellant/claimant against the award of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (Principal Subordinate Judge),Tirunelveli, passed in M.C.O.P.No. 47 of 2013, dated 23.04.2014.
2. It is the case of a fatal accident which took place on 18.12.2012 at about 18.30 hours on Vadakarai ? Panpozhi main road.
3. It is the case of the claimant before the Tribunal that when the petitioner Mahendran was riding his TVS Sport Motor cycle bearing Registration No. TN 76 L 2979, from East to West on Vadakarai ? Panpozhi main road, the driver of the auto bearing Registration No. TN 76 D-6908, drove the auto in a rash and negligent manner and dashed against the two wheeler and due to which the petitioner was thrown out of the two wheeler. As a result of the accident, the petitioner sustained Multiple grievous injuries all over the body and sustained fractures and became functionally disabled.
4. The claimant filed application in M.C.O.P.No.47 of 2013 on the file of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal/ Principal Sub Judge, Tirunelveli, seeking compensation.
5. Before the Tribunal, the appellants/claimants examined three witnesses as P.W.1 to P.W.3 and marked nine documents as Ex.P.1 to Ex.P.9. On the side of the respondents, they did not let in any oral and documentary evidence.
6.The Tribunal, after considering the pleadings, oral and documentary evidence and the arguments advanced on either side and also on appreciating the evidence on record, held that the accident occurred only due to the rash and negligent driving of the first respondent/ driver of the auto bearing Registration No.TN 76 D-6908, and therefore directed the second respondent to pay a sum of Rs.2,22,640/-to the claimant as compensation.
7. Against which, the appellant/claimant filed the present appeal seeking enhancement of compensation.
8. This Court heard the submissions made on either side and perused the materials available on record.
9.The learned counsel for the appellant/claimant would submit that the Tribunal ought to have seen that the injured claimant is a coconut tree climber and due to the disability he is not able to continue his work. The amounts awarded by the Tribunal are on lower side and the Tribunal ought to have adopted multiplier method. Therefore, the compensation awarded by the Tribunal has to be enhanced.
10.The learned counsel appearing for the second respondent/ Insurance Company submitted that the Tribunal awarded a just and reasonable compensation and the same does not warrant interference.
11. The tribunal has awarded Rs.12,000/- towards loss of income and the same is enhanced as Rs.72,000/- (12 X Rs.6000) as the petitioner has stated in the claim petition that he was earning Rs.6,000/- per month. The tribunal has awarded Rs.15,000/- towards pain and sufferings and considering the injuries he sustained and the treatment he underwent, the same is enhanced to Rs.1,00,000/-. The Tribunal has awarded each Rs.5,000/- towards nutritious food and Transportation and the same are enhanced to each Rs.25,000/-. The Tribunal has not awarded any compensation towards loss of amenities and attendant charges and this Court awards Rs.5,000/- and Rs.25,000/- receptively towards the same. The compensation awarded by the Tribunal under other heads are hereby confirmed.
12. This Court modifies the award of the Tribunal by enhancing the compensation as under:-
S.No Description By Tribunal (Rs) By this Court (Rs) Result 1 Loss of income 12,000 72,000 Enhanced 2 Pain and sufferings 15,000 1,00,000 Enhanced 3 Medical expenses 32,140 32,140 Confirmed 4 Mental agony 5,000 5,000 confirmed 5 disability 1,48,500 1,48,500 Confirmed 6 Nutritious foods 5,000 25,000 Enhanced 7 Attendant charges
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25,000 Awarded 8 Loss of amenties
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5,000 Awarded 9 Transportation 5,000 25,000 Enhanced Total 2,22,640 4,37,140 By enhancing Rs.2,14,500
13. In the result,
(i) The Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is partly allowed, by enhancing the award of the Tribunal from Rs.2,22,640/- (Rupees Two lakhs twenty two thousand six hundred and forty only) to a sum of Rs.4,37,140 /- (Rupees Four lakhs thirty seven thousand one hundred and forty only) along with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of petition till date of realisation and proportionate costs;
(ii) The second respondent/Insurance Company is directed to deposit the entire award amount with accrued interests and costs, less the amount already deposited, if any, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. On such deposit being made, the appellant/claimant is permitted to withdraw the entire award amount with accrued interests and costs, without filing any formal application before the Tribunal. No Costs.
To The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal/ Principal Sub Court, Tirunelveli.
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