UTTAM SINGH Vs. MANAGING DIRECTOR, J&K RTC

JUDGEMENT

(1.) APPELLANTS seek enhancement of compensation and a high rate of interest. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Udhampur has awarded compensation of Rs. One lac to them with interest @ 6% p.a. Their grievance is that compensation awarded is on the lower - side and so is the rate of interest.

(2.) IT was on July 27, 1983, that a budding life was cut short in a road accident on Jammu -Srinagar National High -way. Charanjit Singh, 28, a Graduate in Agriculture had gone to Anantnag in Kashmir to appear in an interview. On his way back, he was hit by a passenger Bus belonging to respondent No. 1 at a place called Dharmanthal. There is no denial to the fact that he had qualified his B Sc. Agriculture and was seeking a job. Nor it is in dispute that he was unemployed at the time of accident and had no definite income which could be made basis for awarding compensation.

(3.) BEFORE the Tribunal, appellants tried to establish by evidence that at the time of accident he was earning Rs.500/ - PM as a private tutor out of which be used to pay Rs.400/ - PM to support his family. Tribunal made it the basis and on applying a multiplier of 20, in the facts and circumstances of the case, awarded compensation of Rs. one lac to them.