1999 JTR(SC) 935
2000 ACJ 252 ; 1999 AIR(SC) 2977 ; 1999 AIR(SCW) 2897 ; 2000 1 AllCJ 392 ; 1999 4 AllMR(SC) 165 ; 1999 3 AndhWR(SC) 203 ; 1999 4 AWC 3357 ; 2000 DNJ 286 ; 1999 2 GLH 738 ; 1999 6 JT 273 ; 2000 1 PLR(SC) 396 ; 1999 4 RCR(Civ) 132 ; 1999 5 Scale 207 ; 1999 8 SCC 226 ; 1999 SCC(Cri) 1415 ; 1999 2 UJ 1360 ; 1999 3 AnWR 203 ; 1999 3 TAC 533 ; 1999 AIRSCW 2897 ; AIR 1999 SC 2977 ; 1999 KHC 1399 ; 1999 7 Supreme 440
1999(7) Supreme 440
Supreme Court of India
(From Karnataka High Court)
S.B. Majmudar & D.P. Mohapatra, JJ.
A. Robert -Appellant
versus
The United Insurance Co. Ltd. -Respondent
(@ SLP (C) No. 4738 of 1996)
Civil Appeal No. 4738 of 1999
Decided on 27-8-1999
Counsel for the Parties :
For the Appellant : N.P.S. Panwar, S.N. Bhatadv. Advocates.
For the Respondent : Ujjwal Banerjee, H.K. Puri, Advocates.
Act
Referred
:INCOME TAX ACT : S.160(1)(iv), S.161(1)
MOTOR VEHICLES ACT : S.110(d), S.110(a), S.96
(A) The Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 (Sections 96, 110-A, 110(d)) governs compensation liability in motor accident claims, read with the Income Tax Act, 1961 (Sections 160(1)(iv), 161(1)) for set-off or deduction purposes. Section 110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act establishes statutory liability of an insurer to indemnify the victim of an accident caused by the insured vehicle, while Sections 96 and 110(d) define the scope of insurance and liability limits. The Income Tax Act provisions are relevant for assessing any set-off claims or deductions from compensations in relevant scenarios.
(B) The core legal principles include strict statutory liability of an insurer under Section 110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, the non-justiciability of negligence once the tribunal attributes fault to the insured, the courts power to adjust quantum of compensation within statutory caps, and the requirement to provide adequate compensation for permanent injuries including pain, shock, and suffering.
Facts of the case:
A 15-year-old appellant was involved in a motor vehicle accident caused by the motor lorry of the insured on 17.6.1984 in Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore. The injuries included fractures of the left humerus and pelvis, a laceration, and urethral stricture requiring multiple medical interventions and causing permanent disability affecting urination and sexual life. The claimant filed a petition under Section 110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act seeking compensation of Rs. 2,83,000 against the driver and the Insurance Company. The Tribunal awarded Rs. 99,000, which the High Court increased to Rs. 96,500, primarily on the ground of under-compensation for pain and suffering. The Insurance Company did not contest the accident liability but challenged the quantum. The insured is no longer a party to the proceedings.
Findings of Court:
The court held that the Insurance Companys statutory liability under the Motor Vehicles Act is capped at Rs. 1,50,000 in respect of the injuries caused. The injuries were permanent in nature and had severe impact on the claimants life, requiring enhanced compensation for pain, shock, and suffering. The High Courts award of Rs. 44,000 for pain and suffering was increased to Rs. 1 lakh. The total awardable amount was fixed at Rs. 1,50,000, including prior allowances, with 6% interest from the date of the claim petition. The Insurance Company is directed to pay the balance amount to the Tribunal for disbursement to the appellant.
Issues:
Whether the Insurance Company can be held liable for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act when the insured is not a party to the appeal. Whether the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal and confirmed by the High Court was adequate in view of the grievous and permanent nature of the injuries. Whether the court has the power to enhance the award up to the statutory limit of Rs. 1,50,000 and adjust interest and set-off mechanisms under the Income Tax Act.
Ratio Decidendi:
Where an accident is caused by the insureds motor vehicle, the insurers statutory liability under Section 110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act is strict and independent of the insureds presence in the appeal. Compensation must be awarded based on the severity and permanency of injuries, and the court can enhance the award up to the statutory maximum of Rs. 1,50,000, ensuring just compensation for pain, suffering, and future impact, with interest from the date of the claim.
Result:
The appeal is allowed to the extent of increasing the total award to Rs. 1,50,000 with 6% interest from the date of the claim petition, subject to prior payments made by the Insurance Company, which must be adjusted accordingly.
(A) The Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 (Sections 96, 110-A, 110(d)) governs compensation liability in motor accident claims, read with the Income Tax Act, 1961 (Sections 160(1)(iv), 161(1)) for set-off or deduction purposes. Section 110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act establishes statutory liability of an insurer to indemnify the victim of an accident caused by the insured vehicle, while Sections 96 and 110(d) define the scope of insurance and liability limits. The Income Tax Act provisions are relevant for assessing any set-off claims or deductions from compensations in relevant scenarios.
(B) The core legal principles include strict statutory liability of an insurer under Section 110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, the non-justiciability of negligence once the tribunal attributes fault to the insured, the courts power to adjust quantum of compensation within statutory caps, and the requirement to provide adequate compensation for permanent injuries including pain, shock, and suffering.
Facts of the case:
A 15-year-old appellant was involved in a motor vehicle accident caused by the motor lorry of the insured on 17.6.1984 in Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore. The injuries included fractures of the left humerus and pelvis, a laceration, and urethral stricture requiring multiple medical interventions and causing permanent disability affecting urination and sexual life. The claimant filed a petition under Section 110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act seeking compensation of Rs. 2,83,000 against the driver and the Insurance Company. The Tribunal awarded Rs. 99,000, which the High Court increased to Rs. 96,500, primarily on the ground of under-compensation for pain and suffering. The Insurance Company did not contest the accident liability but challenged the quantum. The insured is no longer a party to the proceedings.
Findings of Court:
The court held that the Insurance Companys statutory liability under the Motor Vehicles Act is capped at Rs. 1,50,000 in respect of the injuries caused. The injuries were permanent in nature and had severe impact on the claimants life, requiring enhanced compensation for pain, shock, and suffering. The High Courts award of Rs. 44,000 for pain and suffering was increased to Rs. 1 lakh. The total awardable amount was fixed at Rs. 1,50,000, including prior allowances, with 6% interest from the date of the claim petition. The Insurance Company is directed to pay the balance amount to the Tribunal for disbursement to the appellant.
Issues:
Whether the Insurance Company can be held liable for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act when the insured is not a party to the appeal. Whether the quantum of compensation awarded by the Tribunal and confirmed by the High Court was adequate in view of the grievous and permanent nature of the injuries. Whether the court has the power to enhance the award up to the statutory limit of Rs. 1,50,000 and adjust interest and set-off mechanisms under the Income Tax Act.
Ratio Decidendi:
Where an accident is caused by the insureds motor vehicle, the insurers statutory liability under Section 110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act is strict and independent of the insureds presence in the appeal. Compensation must be awarded based on the severity and permanency of injuries, and the court can enhance the award up to the statutory maximum of Rs. 1,50,000, ensuring just compensation for pain, suffering, and future impact, with interest from the date of the claim.
Result:
The appeal is allowed to the extent of increasing the total award to Rs. 1,50,000 with 6% interest from the date of the claim petition, subject to prior payments made by the Insurance Company, which must be adjusted accordingly.
Judgment
S.B. Majmudar, J.-We have heard learned counsel for the claimant-appellant as well as learned counsel for Respondent No. 1-Insurance Company in this appeal. The name of Respondent No. 2, who was the insured of the motor vehicle, has stood deleted and the SLP against him has been dismissed by order dated 14.9.1998 on account of absence of service to him. Hence, the question of statutory liability of the Insurance Company survives for our consideration.
2. The appellant at the age of 15 years met with a serious motor vehicle accident caused by the motor lorry belonging to the insured, the original respondent No. 2 which dashed against the appellant at Shivaji Nagar in Bangalore city on 17.6.1984. He suffered from various injuries which were detected as under :
(i) Fracture of left humerus;
(ii) Lacerated wound on the middle aspect of the left knee 3" wide and suspected fracture of pelvis; and
(iii) cut wound over the lateral aspect of right knee 1/2" X 1/8".
3. After the first aid, the appellant was referred to Orthopaedic wing of Bowring Hospital. One Dr. Hafeezullah treated the appellant and confirmed that the appellant suffered fracture of left humerus. The said fracture was reduced on conservative lines. The appellant’s left hand was put under plaster cast for six weeks. On account of the various injuries suffered by him due to the aforesaid motor accident, the appellant filed a claim petiton under Section 110-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939. The claim for compensation was for Rs. 2,83,000/- against the insured, driver of the motor vehicle as well as the Insurance Company, the remaining sole respondent in the present case.
4. The Tribunal on diverse heads after hearing the parties, granted compensation of Rs. 99,000/- taking the view that the accident was caused due to rash and negligent driving of the insured lorry. The appellant in search of higher compensation filed an appeal in the High Court. The Insurance Company - the respondent herein filed cross-objections. The High Court substantially confirmed the award of the Tribunal but by correcting an arithmetical error reduced it to Rs. 96,5000/-. The appellant-claimant has filed the present appeal for grant of higher compensation in the light of the injuries suffered by him.
5. Even apart from the question whether the Insurance Company could have filed cross-objection challenging the quantum of compensation as granted by the Tribunal, we find that for the accidental injuries caused in the present case, the Insurance Company’s statutory liability under the 1939 Act would be Rs. 1,50,000/- at the highest as the insured is now not a party respondent before us. The only question which survives for our consideration is whether the said statutory liability of the Insurance Company is required to be fully foisted on the respondent.
6. In order to decide this question, we have to look at the injuries suffered by the victim of the accident. The question of negligence of the lorry driver is no longer open for consideration in this appeal by the claimant and the Insurance Company also cannot have anything to say on this aspect. Therefore, proceeding on the basis that the accident was caused by rash and negligent driving of the driver of the offending motor lorry we have to see as to what is the apropriate compensation which could be awarded to the appellant. The Tribunal has noted, amongst others, the appellant suffered from the following injuries :
1. Fracture of pelvis.
2. Bladder was distended.
3. Fracture of left humerus.
It has been further observed in the light of the evidence of P.W. 1 that on 18.6.1984 he did the supra-pubic systostomy emergently. He inserted catheter over the urethra for the purpose of discharge of urine. On 8.2.1985 under general anaesthesia urethro-plasty was done by P.W. 1. The claimant wa then examined by him as he was complaining burning sensation while passing urine with little difficult. Subsequent X-raye taken showed that there was evidence of pyelonephritis on the right side i.e. inflammation in the right kindney. It was also found that there was stricture at the bulbo membranous region. The witness deposed that on 8.2.1986 dilatation was done under general anaesthesia. Because of the strictures referred to earlier the claimant had to undergo repeated dilatations throughout his life. On account of the stricture over urethra inflammation would be caused whenever there is blockage of urine. It has been further observed by the Tribunal that the claimant will have difficulty while passing urine throughout his life. If the urethra is affected, sexual life of the claimant will also be affected in future. It was also pointed out by P.W. 1 that the claimant had to undergo dilatation once in a month. All these evidence has stood well sustained on record. The evidence of P.W. 1 revealed that because of the injuries suffered by teh claimant, a boy of 15 years, his future life is seriously affected including his sexual life. These are serious injuries which required appropriate compensation to be awarded on the head of pain, shock and suffering. The Tribunal granted on this head only Rs. 44,000/-. In our view, looking at the injuries which are permanent in nature suffered by the claimant and which have permanent adverse effect on his future healthy life including sexual life, an additional amount of at least Rs. 56,000/- was required to be granted to the claimant on the head of pain, shock and suffering so as to make it Rs. 1 lakh instead of Rs. 44,000/-. The High Court unfortunately has not considered the gravity of the injuries suffered by the claimant as established on record and, therefore, has confirmed the award of Rs. 44,000/- on the head of pain, shock and suffering. Once it is increased to Rs. 1 lakh, the total amount awardable to the claimant would work upto Rs. 1,52,500/-. However, the respondent - Insurance Company’s statutory libility is confined to Rs. 1,50,000/-. We, therefore, confine the award to Rs. 1,50,000/- only which will include compensation already allowed on all remaining items of expenditure on nourishment, medical treatment, travelling expenses and for actual injuries and disablement suffered by the claimant.
7. The appeal is accordingly allowed to the aforesaid limited extent by increasing the award of the Tribunal and as confirmed by the High Court to a total amount of Rs. 1,50,000/- insiend of Rs. 96,500/- as awarded by the High Court by the impugned order. The awarded amount of Rs. 1,50,000/- will bear 6 per cent interest per annum from the date of the claim petition till payment. Whatever amount the Insurance Company may have paid pursuant to the impugned award, will naturally have to be adjusted towards the awarded amount and the respondent-Insurance Company will have to pay the balance amount with requisite interest at 6 per cent thereon from the date of application till actual payment to the claimant. The respondent-Insurance Company is directed to deposit in the Tribunal the balance amount payable pursunt to the present order within eight weeks from today. Deposited amount shall be paid to the appellant on due indentification by the Tribunal. There will be no order as to costs.
(C.R.) Appeal allowed.
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