NARANBHAI DHULABHAI CHAMAR Vs. SC TALIKATI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE original claimant of Motor Accident Claims Petition No. 424 of 1989 filed before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal at Ahmedabad, has preferred this appeal on a limited question. His grievance is that though the Tribunal vide its award dated 23/11/2000 has granted compensation for loss of prospective income, it has directed that no interest will be claimed on the same. The Tribunal has awarded interest @ 10% on the rest of the amount i.e., Rs.19,000/ -

(2.) I have heard Mr. BG Jani, learned advocate for the appellant and Mr. RH Mehta, learned advocate for the Insurance Company. The insured is not served and the original driver is already deleted. However, considering the fact that the liability to indemnify the insured is already fastened on the Insurance Company and the controversy is very limited with regard to payment of interest on the amount of compensation for future loss of income, the presence of insured is not needed in these proceedings. Of -course it is made clear that this cannot be applicable in other cases and the aforesaid observation is made strictly in view of the peculiar facts of this case.

(3.) IT appears that the Tribunal has committed error in not awarding interest on the compensation for future loss of income. The said amount forms part and parcel of the entire award and interest ought to have been awarded on the same. However, considering the fact that with the passage of time, the rate of interest has decreased, in the instant case, instead of interest @ 10%, appellant will be entitled to recover interest @ 8% p a on the amount of compensation awarded under the head of future loss of income i.e., Rs.56,000/ - from the date of claim petition till the date of deposit, since the award amount has been deposited long back.