In the judgment in the case of Puttamma and Ors. MANU/SC/1321/2013 : (2013) 15 SCC 45, this Court has observed that the Central Government was bestowed with the duties to amend Schedule-II in view of Section 163-A(3) of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, but it failed to do so. In view of the same, specific directions were issued to the Central Government to make appropriate amendments to Schedule-II keeping in mind the present cost of living. In the said judgment, till such amendments are made, directions were issued for award of compensation by fixing a sum of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh only) towards compensation for the non-earning children up to the age of 5 (five) years old and a sum of Rs. 1,50,000/- (Rupees one lakh fifty thousand only) for the non-earning persons of more than 5 (five) years old. {Para 12}
15. In view of the judgments in the cases in Puttamma and Ors. MANU/SC/1321/2013 : (2013) 15 SCC 45, R.K. Malik and Anr. MANU/SC/0809/2009 : (2009) 14 SCC 1 and Kishan Gopal and Anr. MANU/SC/0864/2013 : (2014) 1 SCC 244, we are of the view that it is a fit case to increase the notional income by taking into account the inflation, devaluation of the rupee and cost of living.
16. In view of the above, we deem it appropriate to take notional income of the deceased at Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees twenty five thousand only) per annum. Accordingly, when the notional income is multiplied with applicable multiplier '15', as prescribed in Schedule-II for the claims Under Section 163-A of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, it comes to Rs. 3,75,000/- (Rs. 25,000/- x Multiplier 15) towards loss of dependency. The Appellants are also entitled to a sum of Rs. 40,000/- each towards filial consortium and Rs. 15,000/- towards funeral expenses.
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Civil Appeal No. 6902 of 2021
Decided On: 16.11.2021
Kurvan Ansari and Ors. Vs.Shyam Kishore Murmu and Ors.
Hon'ble Judges/Coram:
R. Subhash Reddy and Hrishikesh Roy, JJ.
Author: R. Subhash Reddy, J.
1. Leave Granted.
2. This Civil Appeal is preferred by the Appellants-claimants in M.A. No. 66 of 2011, preferred before the High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi, aggrieved by the judgment and order dated 03.08.2018.
3. Necessary facts, in brief, for disposal of this Appeal are that on 06.09.2004, while the son of the Appellants-claimants viz., Ibran Ali, a boy aged about 7 (seven) years studying in Class-II, was standing by the side of the road in front of his maternal grandparents' house, a motorcycle has dashed him causing grievous injuries resulting in his death. The said vehicle was driven by one Mr. Sunil Gurum and owned by Respondent No. 1 and insured with Respondent No. 2.
4. On account of the said accident which resulted the death of the child of the claimants, they filed a Claim Petition Under Section 163-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 claiming compensation. Before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, it was the case of the claimants that the accident has occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the driver of the offending motorcycle; the deceased boy was aged about 7 years at the time of accident and he was studying in Class-II. The Tribunal by appreciating oral and documentary evidence on record, has come to the conclusion that the accident has occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the motorcycle's driver viz., Sunil Gurum. The Tribunal, considering notional income of the deceased at Rs. 15,000/- per annum, by applying multiplier '15', awarded compensation of Rs. 2,25,000/- with interest @6% per annum from the date of judgment. Since the driver of the offending motorcycle Mr. Sunil Gurum was not possessing valid driving licence at the time of accident, the Tribunal directed Respondent No. 2-Insurance Company to pay the compensation to the claimants and recover the same from its owner.
5. Pleading contributory negligence, the insurance company had preferred M.A. No. 115 of 2011, for enhancement of compensation, the claimants have preferred M.A. No. 66 of 2011, before the High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi.
6. By the impugned judgment, the High Court has dismissed the appeal preferred by the Insurance Company and partly allowed the appeal preferred by the claimants by awarding a further sum of Rs. 15,000/- towards funeral expenses. Thus, it is held that the Appellants are entitled to a sum of Rs. 2,40,000/- towards compensation with interest as awarded by the Tribunal from the date of filing Claim Petition.
7. We have heard Sri S.N. Bhat, learned Counsel for the Appellants, and Sri V.S. Chopra, learned Counsel for Respondent No. 2-Insurance Company.
8. Sri S.N. Bhat, learned Counsel for the Appellants, mainly contended that the compensation awarded by the Tribunal as confirmed by the High Court is on lower side and is not just and fair. The learned Counsel has contended that the compensation was awarded by assuming income of the deceased notionally at Rs. 15,000/- per annum as per Schedule-II of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 which is applicable to the claims made Under Section 163-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. It is submitted that the notional income of Rs. 15,000/- was fixed as early as in the year 1994 and somehow, the same is continued in the statute without any amendment in spite of repeated directions by this Court. It is submitted that in view of the provision Under Section 163-A(3) of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, though it was obligatory on the part of the Government to amend Schedule-II, same as fixed in the year 1994, continued since then. Thus, it is submitted that the notional income as fixed, is to be considered by taking into account increase in the cost of living. In support of his arguments, the learned Counsel for the Appellants has relied on the judgments of this Court in the cases of Puttamma and Ors. v. K.L. Narayana Reddy and Anr. MANU/SC/1321/2013 : (2013) 15 SCC 45, R.K. Malik and Anr. v. Kiran Pal and Ors. MANU/SC/0809/2009 : (2009) 14 SCC 1 and Kishan Gopal and Anr. v. Lala and Ors. MANU/SC/0864/2013 : (2014) 1 SCC 244.
9. On the other hand, Sri V.S. Chopra, learned Counsel for Respondent No. 2-Insurance Company, has submitted that there are no grounds to interfere with the impugned judgment of the High Court and placed reliance on the judgment of this Court in the case of Rajendra Singh and Ors. v. National Insurance Co. Limited and Ors. MANU/SC/0486/2020 : (2020) 7 SCC 256.
10. Having heard the learned Counsel for the parties, we have perused the impugned judgment and the other material placed on record.
11. As the claim was made Under Section 163-A of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, since the deceased child was not an earning member, the Tribunal has considered notional income as per Schedule-II for the purpose of fixing compensation. The Tribunal has awarded compensation by taking notional income of the deceased at Rs. 15,000/- per annum by applying multiplier '15', awarded compensation of Rs. 2,25,000/- towards loss of dependency with interest @ 6% per annum from the date of judgment. When the appeals are preferred by the Insurance Company as well as the Appellants herein, by the impugned common judgment, the High Court has dismissed the appeal preferred by the Insurance Company, and in the appeal preferred by the claimants, while confirming the compensation awarded for loss of dependency at Rs. 2,25,000/-, has awarded a further sum of Rs. 15,000/- towards funeral expenses and accordingly granted a total compensation of Rs. 2,40,000/- with interest @6% per annum payable by Respondent No. 2-Insurance Company and by permitting it to recover the same from Respondent No. 1-owner of the motorcycle.
12. In the judgment in the case of Puttamma and Ors. MANU/SC/1321/2013 : (2013) 15 SCC 45, this Court has observed that the Central Government was bestowed with the duties to amend Schedule-II in view of Section 163-A(3) of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, but it failed to do so. In view of the same, specific directions were issued to the Central Government to make appropriate amendments to Schedule-II keeping in mind the present cost of living. In the said judgment, till such amendments are made, directions were issued for award of compensation by fixing a sum of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh only) towards compensation for the non-earning children up to the age of 5 (five) years old and a sum of Rs. 1,50,000/- (Rupees one lakh fifty thousand only) for the non-earning persons of more than 5 (five) years old.
13. In the case of R.K. Malik and Anr. MANU/SC/0809/2009 : (2009) 14 SCC 1 also, this Court has observed that the notional income fixed Under Section 163-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 as Rs. 15,000/- per annum should be enhanced and increased as the same continued to exist without any amendment since 14.11.1994. In the case of Kishan Gopal and Anr. MANU/SC/0864/2013 : (2014) 1 SCC 244 where the deceased was a ten years old child, this Court has fixed his notional income at Rs. 30,000/- per annum.
14. In this case, it is to be noted that the accident was on 06.09.2004. In spite of repeated directions, Schedule-II is not yet amended. Therefore, fixing notional income at Rs. 15,000/- per annum for non-earning members is not just and reasonable.
15. In view of the judgments in the cases in Puttamma and Ors. MANU/SC/1321/2013 : (2013) 15 SCC 45, R.K. Malik and Anr. MANU/SC/0809/2009 : (2009) 14 SCC 1 and Kishan Gopal and Anr. MANU/SC/0864/2013 : (2014) 1 SCC 244, we are of the view that it is a fit case to increase the notional income by taking into account the inflation, devaluation of the rupee and cost of living. In view of the same, the judgment in the case of Rajendra Singh and Ors. MANU/SC/0486/2020 : (2020) 7 SCC 256 relied on by the learned Counsel for Respondent No. 2-Insurance Company would not render any assistance to the case of the insurance company.
16. In view of the above, we deem it appropriate to take notional income of the deceased at Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees twenty five thousand only) per annum. Accordingly, when the notional income is multiplied with applicable multiplier '15', as prescribed in Schedule-II for the claims Under Section 163-A of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, it comes to Rs. 3,75,000/- (Rs. 25,000/- x Multiplier 15) towards loss of dependency. The Appellants are also entitled to a sum of Rs. 40,000/- each towards filial consortium and Rs. 15,000/- towards funeral expenses. Thus, the Appellants are entitled to the following amounts towards compensation:
17. Accordingly, the Appellants are entitled for a sum of Rs. 4,70,000/- (Rupees four lakhs seventy thousand only) towards total compensation with interest at 6% per annum from the date of claim petition till the date of realisation. The enhanced compensation shall be apportioned between the Appellants as ordered by the Tribunal. The entire compensation shall be paid to the Appellants by Respondent No. 2-Insurance Company, and we keep it open to the Insurance Company to recover the same from Respondent No. 1-owner of the motorcycle by initiating appropriate proceedings as the motorcycle was driven by the driver who was not possessing valid driving licence on the date of the accident.
18. Accordingly, this Civil Appeal is allowed partly with directions as indicated above. No order as to costs.
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