Bibi Bulo & Ors. v. Mohd Jahangir & Ors.

1. Issue notice.

2. The learned counsel named above accepts notice on behalf of the insurance company.

3. At joint request, the appeal is taken up for disposal.

4. This appeal impugns the award of compensation dated 20.09.2019 passed by the learned MACT in MACT No.552/2017 seeking enhancement of compensation on the following grounds: i) That the deceased was 44 years of age at the time of the motor vehicular accident, therefore multiplier of 14 ought to have 2019:DHC:5518 been applied instead of 13 in terms of the dicta of the Supreme Court in National Insurance Co. Ltd. vs. Pranay Sethi & Ors., ii) That there were eight claimants, therefore, the deduction towards ‘personal expenses’ ought to have been 1/5th and not 1/4th. iii) That the compensation towards ‘loss of consortium’ and ‘loss of love and affection’ @ Rs. 40,000/- and Rs. 50,000/respectively ought to have been granted to each of the claimants in terms of Magma General Insurance Co. Ltd. vs. Nanu Ram @ Chuhru Ram & Ors., 2018 SCC OnLine SC 1546.

5. Each of the aforesaid grounds are valid, the impugned order is, therefore, modified to the following extent as under:

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│        Sl.     Particular                       Compensation                         │
│        NO.                                      Amount                               │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│        1.      Loss of dependency Rs.13,350/- Rs.22,42,800/-                         │
│                (minimum wages) x12 (months)                                          │
│                x 14(multiplier) x 80/100 (1/5th                                      │
│                deduction towards personal                                            │
│                expenses)x125/100 (loss of                                            │
│                future prospects)                                                     │
│        2.      Loss of love & affection Rs.5,00,000/-                                │
│                [Rs.50,000x10(claimants)]                                             │
│        3.      Loss        of       consortium Rs.4,00,000/-                         │
│                [Rs.40,000x10(claimants)]                                             │
│        4.      Loss of Estate                   Rs.15,000/-                          │
│        5.      Funeral expenses                 Rs.15,000/-                          │
│                             Total               Rs.31,72,800/-                       │
│ MAC.APP. No. 838/2019                                             Page 2 of 3        │
│                                                                      2019:DHC:5518   │
│ 6.     Hence, the total amount payable to the appellant is Rs. 31,72,800/-.          │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

7. The appeal is disposed-off in the above terms.

NAJMI WAZIRI, J OCTOBER 23, 2019 AB