KAMLESH Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE appeal is at the instance of the claimants for enhancement for death of the husband of the first petitioner, who was around 25 years of age. The claimants were a young widow and a child of

(2.) -1/2 years of age besides aged parents. It was in evidence that the deceased was in a business as a commission agent through a firm and he had 1/6th share in the profits of the business. It was also contended on behalf of the claimants that he had cultivated agricultural lands on lease and the lessor was also examined as a witness. He gave evidence to the effect that he had over 30 acres of land and half the land had been g anted on a lease to the deceased. The firm had been assessed to tax and the Tribunal made reference to the fact that the firm had paid Rs.1,800/ - as tax for the year 1993 -94. 2 The Tribunal assessed the monthly income at Rs.1,500/ - and made a deduction of 1/3rd and adopted a multiplier of 16 to determine the compensation of Rs. 1,92,000/ -. Both as regards the multiplicand and multiplier, the claimants have a grievance that adequate amounts had not been provided for.

(3.) BOTH as regards the involvement of the deceased in the profession as a commission agent and as agriculturist augmenting his income through agricultural operations, there had been at least a modicum of evidence. The owner of the land had given evil dence that he had allowed the deceased to cultivate his lands. Same way a partner in the firm had been examined to speak about the involvement of the deceased in the business Therefore, the Tribunal could not have discarded both the evidence and merely taken him to be on par with an unskilled worker to provide for a sum of Rs. 1,500/ - for his I would take two sources of income as commission agent and agricultural income operating on lease as established and would take his average monthly income at Rs.3,000/ -. He had four dependents and I would, therefore, provide for a 1/4th deduction and take the extent of contribution to the family at Rs.2,250/ -. He was aged 25 years and, therefore, I would take the multiplier of 18 and take the loss of dependence at Rs.4,86,000/ -. I would add Rs.5,000/ - for loss of consortium to the wife, Rs.5,000/ - for loss of love and affection for the child. I will add another Rs.5,000/ - for loss to estate and Rs.2,500/ - for funeral expenses. The amount in all would come to Rs.5,03,500/ -.