1
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO 3152 OF 2017
S. THANGARAJ ..Appellant
VERSUS
NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD. REP.BY
THE BRANCH MANAGER ..Respondent
J U D G M E N T
Dr D Y CHANDRACHUD, J
1 Delay condoned.
2 The claim arises out of a disability sustained as a result of a motor
accident. The Tribunal granted compensation to the claimant in the amount of
Rs 11,27,359 together with interest at 12 per cent per annum. The High Court
has simply reduced the interest awarded by the Tribunal to 7.5 per cent per
annum while maintaining the award of compensation. The claimant is in appeal.
REPORTABLE
2
3 The accident took place on 1 August 2004. The appellant was 26 years
old at the time of the accident. The accident took place when the appellant was
a pillion rider on a motor cycle ridden by one Edwin. As the motor cycle was
proceeding from Marthandam, a lorry bearing Registration No.TN 69 Z 2979
dashed against it. The lorry thereafter dashed against an electric pole and
collided with a residential property resulting in the death of an occupant of the
house. The appellant sustained serious injuries in the accident. The injuries
have been described in the evidence of PW 4, the doctor at the hospital where
the appellant was treated. The appellant sustained a fracture in his spinal cord,
right leg and right hip bone. As a result of the accident the appellant has no
sensation or movement in his legs. The Tribunal accepted the evidence of PW
4 and observed thus:
“Moreover PW 4 the doctor has stated in his evidence that
below the abdomen of the petitioner, there is no movement
and sensation in two legs…”
The Tribunal determined the disability at 70%, on the basis of medical opinion.
The Tribunal computed the compensation payable to the appellant on account
of the loss of income occasioned by the disability at Rs 9,72,000. However, on
the basis of the opinion of the doctor that the disability was to the extent of 70
per cent, the net amount was determined at Rs 6,80,400. After taking into
account the medical and other expenses, the Tribunal awarded a total
compensation of Rs 11,27,359 together with interest of 12 per cent per annum.
3
4 Before the High Court, the insurer filed an appeal against the award of
the Tribunal. The appellant filed cross objections. The High Court has reduced
the interest component from 12 per cent per annum to 7.5 per cent per annum.
5 Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant submits that the
High Court has not assessed the compensation in a correct manner. There
was – it has been urged – no justification to compute the disability at 70 per
cent. The appellant was at the relevant time a load man engaged by a building
contractor. The nature of the disability involves a complete loss of sensation in
both the legs. Hence, it would not be possible for him to work as a load man.
Moreover it was urged that there was no justification to reduce the award of
interest to 7.5 per cent per annum and the award of the Tribunal on interest
should be maintained.
6 On the other hand it has been urged on behalf of the insurer that the High
Court was justified in maintaining the award of compensation since it was urged
on behalf of the appellant-claimant at the hearing before the High Court that the
Tribunal had granted just and reasonable compensation. Learned counsel
supported the judgment of the High Court.
7 Having perused the order passed by the High Court, we are not in
agreement with the submission of the insurer that there was a concession on
the part of the appellant before the High Court which must bind him. The
4
statement made by counsel for the appellant before the High Court was on
whether the Tribunal had granted just and reasonable compensation. Whether
in fact the compensation which has been granted is just and reasonable cannot
hence be construed as a matter of concession and it would not preclude the
appellant from raising a contest in these proceedings.
8 On perusing the record it is evident that the injuries sustained by the
appellant are indeed of a serious nature. As a result of the multiple fractures
sustained by him, the appellant has lost complete sensation below the
abdomen. Evidently he cannot work any more as load man. In these
circumstances, the assessment of disability at 70 per cent is incorrect. On a
realistic view of the matter, the nature of the disability must be regarded as
being complete. In the circumstances, we find no reason or justification for the
deduction of an amount of Rs 2,91,600 by the Tribunal (Rs 9,72,000 minus Rs
6,80,400). The amount so deducted must be restored and is rounded off to Rs
3,00,000. Moreover we are of the view that the appellant is entitled to interest
at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from the date of the claim petition.
9 The appeal is accordingly allowed by enhancing the compensation
granted by the Tribunal by an amount of Rs 3,00,000. The appellant would be
entitled to interest @ 9 per cent per annum, on the total amount of
compensation (instead and in substitution of 7.5% per annum awarded by the
5
High Court). The differential amount shall be paid over to the appellant within a
period of eight weeks from today. There shall be no order as to costs.
...........................................CJI
[DIPAK MISRA]
...........................................J
[A M KHANWILKAR]
...........................................J
[Dr D Y CHANDRACHUD]
New Delhi;
March 06, 2018
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO 3152 OF 2017
S. THANGARAJ ..Appellant
VERSUS
NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD. REP.BY
THE BRANCH MANAGER ..Respondent
J U D G M E N T
Dr D Y CHANDRACHUD, J
1 Delay condoned.
2 The claim arises out of a disability sustained as a result of a motor
accident. The Tribunal granted compensation to the claimant in the amount of
Rs 11,27,359 together with interest at 12 per cent per annum. The High Court
has simply reduced the interest awarded by the Tribunal to 7.5 per cent per
annum while maintaining the award of compensation. The claimant is in appeal.
REPORTABLE
2
3 The accident took place on 1 August 2004. The appellant was 26 years
old at the time of the accident. The accident took place when the appellant was
a pillion rider on a motor cycle ridden by one Edwin. As the motor cycle was
proceeding from Marthandam, a lorry bearing Registration No.TN 69 Z 2979
dashed against it. The lorry thereafter dashed against an electric pole and
collided with a residential property resulting in the death of an occupant of the
house. The appellant sustained serious injuries in the accident. The injuries
have been described in the evidence of PW 4, the doctor at the hospital where
the appellant was treated. The appellant sustained a fracture in his spinal cord,
right leg and right hip bone. As a result of the accident the appellant has no
sensation or movement in his legs. The Tribunal accepted the evidence of PW
4 and observed thus:
“Moreover PW 4 the doctor has stated in his evidence that
below the abdomen of the petitioner, there is no movement
and sensation in two legs…”
The Tribunal determined the disability at 70%, on the basis of medical opinion.
The Tribunal computed the compensation payable to the appellant on account
of the loss of income occasioned by the disability at Rs 9,72,000. However, on
the basis of the opinion of the doctor that the disability was to the extent of 70
per cent, the net amount was determined at Rs 6,80,400. After taking into
account the medical and other expenses, the Tribunal awarded a total
compensation of Rs 11,27,359 together with interest of 12 per cent per annum.
3
4 Before the High Court, the insurer filed an appeal against the award of
the Tribunal. The appellant filed cross objections. The High Court has reduced
the interest component from 12 per cent per annum to 7.5 per cent per annum.
5 Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant submits that the
High Court has not assessed the compensation in a correct manner. There
was – it has been urged – no justification to compute the disability at 70 per
cent. The appellant was at the relevant time a load man engaged by a building
contractor. The nature of the disability involves a complete loss of sensation in
both the legs. Hence, it would not be possible for him to work as a load man.
Moreover it was urged that there was no justification to reduce the award of
interest to 7.5 per cent per annum and the award of the Tribunal on interest
should be maintained.
6 On the other hand it has been urged on behalf of the insurer that the High
Court was justified in maintaining the award of compensation since it was urged
on behalf of the appellant-claimant at the hearing before the High Court that the
Tribunal had granted just and reasonable compensation. Learned counsel
supported the judgment of the High Court.
7 Having perused the order passed by the High Court, we are not in
agreement with the submission of the insurer that there was a concession on
the part of the appellant before the High Court which must bind him. The
4
statement made by counsel for the appellant before the High Court was on
whether the Tribunal had granted just and reasonable compensation. Whether
in fact the compensation which has been granted is just and reasonable cannot
hence be construed as a matter of concession and it would not preclude the
appellant from raising a contest in these proceedings.
8 On perusing the record it is evident that the injuries sustained by the
appellant are indeed of a serious nature. As a result of the multiple fractures
sustained by him, the appellant has lost complete sensation below the
abdomen. Evidently he cannot work any more as load man. In these
circumstances, the assessment of disability at 70 per cent is incorrect. On a
realistic view of the matter, the nature of the disability must be regarded as
being complete. In the circumstances, we find no reason or justification for the
deduction of an amount of Rs 2,91,600 by the Tribunal (Rs 9,72,000 minus Rs
6,80,400). The amount so deducted must be restored and is rounded off to Rs
3,00,000. Moreover we are of the view that the appellant is entitled to interest
at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from the date of the claim petition.
9 The appeal is accordingly allowed by enhancing the compensation
granted by the Tribunal by an amount of Rs 3,00,000. The appellant would be
entitled to interest @ 9 per cent per annum, on the total amount of
compensation (instead and in substitution of 7.5% per annum awarded by the
5
High Court). The differential amount shall be paid over to the appellant within a
period of eight weeks from today. There shall be no order as to costs.
...........................................CJI
[DIPAK MISRA]
...........................................J
[A M KHANWILKAR]
...........................................J
[Dr D Y CHANDRACHUD]
New Delhi;
March 06, 2018
