MEERA DEVI Vs. STATE OF UP

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THESE two appeals have been preferred against the judgment and award dated 23.09.2010, passed by the learned Motor Accident Claims Tibunal/Special Judge (P.C. Act), Lucknow in Claim Petition No.197 of 2004, by which a sum of Rs.8,79,000/- has been granted together with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum. The State of U.P. has filed the appeal for decreasing the amount of award and the claimants have challenged the award on the ground that the compensation awarded is insufficient. Brief facts of the case are that on 4.4.2004 the deceased Raj Kumar was traveling on his motorcycle bearing registration no.U.P.-32 AY-4787 from Lucknow to Kanpur along with his friend Kishan and at 2.35 p.m. when they reached near Bird Sanctuary within Police Station Ajgain, District Unnao, they were hit by rashly and negligently driven jeep bearing registration no. U.P.-32-A/2242 coming from behind. Due to impact of the accident Raj Kumar died instantaneously, whose widow, mother (died during the pendency of the case), two minor daughters and three minor sons have preferred the claim petition claiming interalia that the deceased was a railway employee having an earning of Rs.8,740/- per month and he was of the age of 28 years at the time of accident.

(2.) THE claimanants sought for a compensation of Rs.24,94,840/-. The opposite parties admitted the factum of accident but pleaded that the motorcyclist was overtaking a D.C.M. vehicle and met with an accident; the two persons riding on the motorcycle fell on the road. The driver of the Jeep rescued the injured and carried them to hospital. Due to this reason the claimants have maliciously preferred the claim petition against the police department and U.P. State. After filing of the written statement the opposite parties absented themselves and, as such, the proceedings continued against them ex-parte. The learned Tribunal framed four issues and after recording of evidence decided the claim petition.

(3.) ON point of compensation, learned Tribunal has considered that the claimant no.1, widow of the deceased Meera Devi has deposed that her deceased husband was getting a salary of Rs.9,000/- from the Railway Department and she has also filed the salary bill for the month of March, 2004. PW-3 Sudharshan Rajput has also deposed that the deceased has received Rs.8,740/- as salary for the month of March, 2004, after deductions. Learned Tribunal has deducted the honorarium, and bonus to the tune of Rs.937.75 paisa which was not being paid to a railway employee, but once in a year. The learned Tribunal has also deducted Rs.500/- per month on account of income tax as usually paid by the deceased. After deductions, learned Tribunal has reached to the conclusion that the monthly income of the deceased was Rs.6,800/- which comes to Rs.81,600/- annually. Learned Tribunal has also deducted one third of the annual income towards expenses which the deceased would have spent himself had he been alive and has calculated the dependency at Rs.54,450/- annually. As per service book of the deceased, filed vide Paper No.C-46, his date of birth was 19.01.1965. In view of this entry, the deceased has been determined to be 39 years of age at the time of accident and as such, learned Trial Court has rightly applied the multiplier of 16. The net amount so calculated comes to Rs.8,70,400/-. Learned Tribunal has awarded Rs.5,000/- towards loss of consortium and, Rs.2,500/- for loss of estate. There is no infirmity in the impugned award. Learned Tribunal has rightly determined that the mother of the deceased who died during pendency of the case need no share in the compensation so awarded. Learned Tribunal has also awarded interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum subject to condition that if it is not paid within 40 days, the rate of interest would be enhanced to 9 per cent per annum simple interest.