/2022 INSC 0863/
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 6676 OF 2022
Smt. Kalavati & Ors.                   .. Appellants
Versus
Mirza Kaisar Baig & Anr.          ..Respondents
With
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 6677 OF 2022
Smt. Chandrakala & Anr.                    .. Appellants
Versus
Mirza Kaisar Baig & Anr.          ..Respondents  
J U D G M E N T
M. R. Shah, J.
1. Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the   impugned
judgment   and   order   dated   19.02.2019   passed   by   the   High
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Court  of  Karnataka  at   Kalaburagi  Bench  passed  in  respective
First   Appeals,   the   original   claimants   have   preferred   the
present   appeals   and   have   prayed   to   enhance   the   amount   of
compensation. 
Civil Appeal No.6676 of 2022
2. Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the   impugned
judgment   and   order   dated   19.02.2019   passed   by   the   High
Court in M.F.A. No. 200507 of 2018 by which the High Court
has   enhanced   the   amount   of   compensation   from
Rs.10,70,000/­   as   awarded   by   the   learned   Tribunal   to
Rs.15,98,120/­ only, the original claimants have preferred the
present appeal.
2.1 The   issue   involved   in   the   present   appeal   is   in   a   very
narrow compass.
2.2 That   the   deceased   at   the   time   of   accident/death   was
serving   as   a   driver   and   was   holding   a   valid   driving   license.
According   to   the   original   claimants   he   was   earning
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Rs.15,000/­ per month.
2.3   The   learned   Tribunal   awarded   the   amount   of
compensation for the death of the deceased at Rs.10,70,000/­
under   different   heads   including   the   loss   of   dependency.     The
learned   Tribunal   considered   the   loss   of   dependency   at
Rs.9,00,000/­   considering   the   income   of   the   deceased   at
Rs.7,500/­ per month.   By the impugned judgment and order
the   High   Court   has   enhanced   the   loss   of   dependency   to
Rs.14,28,120/­   considering   the   income   of   the   deceased   at
Rs.8,500/­ per month.
2.4 Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the   impugned
judgment   and   order   passed   by  the   High   Court,   the  claimants
have preferred the present appeal for enhancing the amount of
compensation on loss of dependency considering the income of
the deceased at Rs.15,000/­ per month.
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Civil Appeal No.6677 of 2022
3. Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the   impugned
judgment   and   order   dated   19.02.2019   passed   by   the   High
Court in MFA No.200509 of 2018 by which the High Court has
enhanced the amount of compensation from Rs.9,00,000/­ as
awarded   by   the   learned   Tribunal   to   Rs.12,25,104/­   only,   the
original claimants have preferred the present appeal.
3.1 That   the   learned   Tribunal   awarded   a   total   sum   of
Rs.9,00,000/­   under   different   heads   towards   the
compensation  for   the death  of  the  deceased – husband of  the
appellant no.1.   The learned Tribunal has awarded the loss of
dependency   at   Rs.7,80,000/­   considering   the   income   of   the
deceased   at   Rs.7,500/­   per   month.     In   an   appeal   the   High
Court   has   enhanced   the   amount   of   compensation   to
Rs.12,25,104/­   by   enhancing   the   amount   of   compensation
towards loss of dependency at Rs.11,05,104/­ considering the
income of the deceased at Rs.8,500/­ per month.
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3.2 Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the   impugned
judgment   and   order   passed   by   the   High   Court,   the   original
claimants   have   preferred   the   present   appeal   praying   to
enhance   the   amount   of   compensation   under   the   head   loss   of
dependency   considering   the   income   of   the   deceased   at
Rs.15,000/­ per month.
4. Having   heard   learned   counsel   for   the   respective   parties
and   in   the   facts   and   circumstances   of   the   case   and
considering   the   material   on   record   and   considering   the   fact
that   the   deceased   were   having   driving   license   and   were
working   as drivers,  the claimants  shall  be  entitled to  the  loss
of dependency considering the income of the deceased at least
as   Rs.10,000/­   per   month.     Thereafter   adding   40%   towards
future prospects and rise in income and applying the relevant
multiplier   the   claimants   shall   be   entitled   to   the   enhanced
amount of compensation.
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4.1 In   the   case   of   Civil   Appeal   No.6676   of   2022   considering
the   actual   income   of   the   deceased   as   Rs.10,000/­   per   month
and   adding   40%   towards   the   future   prospects   and   thereafter
deducting 1/3 rd
 towards the personal expenses of the deceased
and   applying   the   multiplier   of   15   the   claimants   shall   be
entitled   to   Rs.16,18,120/­   (instead   of   Rs.14,28,120/­   as
awarded   by   the   learned   Tribunal)   towards   the   compensation
under the head loss of dependency.
4.2 Now   so   far   as   the   Civil   Appeal   No.6677   of   2022   is
concerned,   considering   the   actual   income   of   the   deceased   as
Rs.10,000/­   per   month   and   adding   40%   towards   the   future
prospects and thereafter deducting 1/3 rd
 towards the personal
expenses of the deceased and applying the multiplier of 13 the
claimants shall be entitled to Rs.14,56,104/­ towards the loss
of compensation under the head loss of dependency.
To   the   aforesaid   extent,   the   impugned   judgment   and
orders passed by the High Court are required to be modified.
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5. In view of the above and for the reason stated above, both
the   appeals   succeed   in   part.     The   impugned   judgment   and
order passed by the High Court in MFA No.200507 of 2018 is
hereby modified and it is held that the original claimants shall
be   entitled   to   a   total   sum   of   Rs.18,50,120/­   towards   the
compensation with 6% interest (in place of Rs.15,98,120/­ as
awarded by the learned Tribunal).
Civil   Appeal   No.6676   of   2022   is   partly   allowed   to   the
aforesaid extent. 
5.1 The   impugned   judgment   and   order   passed   by   the   High
Court in MFA No.200509 of 2018 is hereby modified and it is
held that the original claimants shall be entitled to a total sum
of Rs.15,76,104/­ towards the compensation with 6% interest
(in   place   of   Rs.12,25,104/­   as   awarded   by   the   learned
Tribunal).
Civil Appeal No.6677 of 2022 is hereby  partly allowed to
the aforesaid extent.
The   respondents/insurance   company   to   deposit   the
balance   enhanced   amount   of   compensation   with   the   learned
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Tribunal   within   a   period   of   eight   weeks   from   today   failing
which it shall carry an interest @ 7.5 % all throughout.
Both   these   appeals   are   partly   allowed   to   the   aforesaid
extent.  In the facts and circumstances of the case, there shall
be no order as to costs.
………………………………….J.
        [M.R. SHAH]
NEW DELHI;     ….…………………………….J.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2022.      [KRISHNA MURARI]
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