- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010490292015 NC: 2026:KHC:37428 MFA No. 9510 of 2015 C/W MFA No. 3932 of 2015 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE P SREE SUDHA MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO. 9510 OF 2015 (MV-D) C/W MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO. 3932 OF 2015 (MV-D) IN MFA No. 9510/2015 BETWEEN: 1. MAMATHA W/O LATE RAMESH, NOW AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS, 2. PUNITH S/O LATE RAMESH NOW AGED ABOUT 12 YEARS, 3. CHANDANA D/O LATE RAMESH NOW AGED ABOUT 10 YEARS, APPELLANT NO.2 AND 3 ARE SINCE MINOR REPRESENTED BY THEIR NATURAL GUARDIAN MOTHER i.e., APPELLANT NO.1 ALL ARE R/O BOVI COLONY, B.D.ROAD, CHITRADURGA - 577 501. …APPELLANTS (BY SRI. RANGE GOWDA N.R, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by PADMASHREE SHEKHAR DESAI Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010490292015 NC: 2026:KHC:37428 MFA No. 9510 of 2015 C/W MFA No. 3932 of 2015 AND: 1. B.S. CHIDANANDA REDDY S/O SRINIVASA REDDY, AGED MAJOR, R/O HEAD POST OFFICE ROAD, CHITRADURGA TOWN - 577 501. 2. THE BRANCH MANAGER IFFCO-TOKIO GENERAL INSURANCE CO.LTD., BRANCH OFFICE OPP: OM GANESHA TRACTOR, SHANKAR MATT ROAD, SHIVAMOGGA - 577 201. 3. BOOTHA BOVI S/O KENGA BOVI, NOW AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS, HUNASAKATTE VILLAGE, CHITRADURGA TALUK - 577 501. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. B. PRADEEP, ADVOCATE FOR R2; SRI. ANAND SHETTY, ADVOCATE FOR R1; SRI. H.K. SINGH, ADVOCATE FOR R3) THIS MFA IS FILED U/S 173(1) OF MV ACT AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED 30.3.2015 PASSED IN MVC NO.457/2012 ON THE FILE OF THE II ADDITIONAL SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE, ADDITIONAL MACT-5, CHITRADURGA, PARTLY ALLOWING THE CLAIM PETITION FOR COMPENSATION AND SEEKING ENHANCEMENT OF COMPENSATION. IN MFA NO. 3932/2015 BETWEEN: THE BRANCH MANAGER IFFCO TOKIO GIC LTD., - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010490292015 NC: 2026:KHC:37428 MFA No. 9510 of 2015 C/W MFA No. 3932 of 2015 BRANCH OFFICE, OPP: OM GANESHA TRACTOR, SHANKARMATT ROAD, SHVAMOGGA, NOW REP. BY ITS LEGAL MANAGER, IFFCO TOKIO GIC LTD., CUSTOMER TOWERS CENTER, SRI. SHANTHI TOWERS, 5TH FLOOR, NO.141, 3RD MAIN, EAST OF NGEF LAYOUT, KASTURI NAGAR, BANGALORE - 560 043. ...APPELLANT (BY SRI. PRADEEP B, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. MAMATHA W/O LATE RAMESH, NOW AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS, 2. PUNIT S/O LATE RAMESH, NOW AGED ABOUT 12 YEARS, 3. CHANDANA D/O LATE RAMESH, NOW AGED ABOUT 10 YEARS, RESPONDENT NO.2 AND 3 ARE MINORS, REP. BY THEIR MOTHER AS A NATURAL GUARDIAN, R/O BOBI COLONY B.D. ROAD, CHITRADURGA - 577 501. 4. B.S. CHIDANANDA REDDY S/O SRINIVASA REDDY, R/O HEAD POST OFFICE ROAD, - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010490292015 NC: 2026:KHC:37428 MFA No. 9510 of 2015 C/W MFA No. 3932 of 2015 CHITRADURGA TOWN - 577 501. 5. BOOTHA BOVI S/O KENGA BOVI, NOW AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS, HUNASEKATTE VILLAGE, CHITRADURGA TALUK - 577 501. ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. N.R. RANGEGOWDA, ADVOCATE FOR R1 TO R3; SRI. A. ANANDA SHETTY, ADVOCATE FOR R4; SRI. H.K. SINGH, ADVOCATE FOR R5) THIS MFA IS FILED U/S 173(1) OF MV ACT AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED 30.03.2015 PASSED IN MVC NO.457/2012 ON THE FILE OF THE II ADDITIONAL SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE, & ADDITIONAL MACT-V, CHITRADURGA, AWARDING COMPENSATION OF RS.8,95,000/- WITH INTEREST @ 7.5% P.A. FROM THE DATE OF PETITION TILL DEPOSIT. THESE APPEALS, COMING ON FOR HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE P SREE SUDHA ORAL JUDGMENT Both the matters are to be disposed of in one appeal, as both the appeals are filed against the same order, hence, common order is passed in both the appeals. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010490292015 NC: 2026:KHC:37428 MFA No. 9510 of 2015 C/W MFA No. 3932 of 2015 2. MFA No.9510/2015 is filed by the appellants/claimants for enhancement of the compensation and MFA No.3932/2015 is filed by the Insurance Company disputing the liability under Section 173(1) of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 challenging the judgment and award dated 30.03.2015 passed in MVC No.457/2012 on the file of the II Additional Senior Civil Judge, Additional MACT-V, Chitradurga. 3. Heard the arguments of learned counsel for the both sides. The ranks of the parties are retained as per Tribunal for the sake of convenience. 4. Brief facts of the case are that, one Ramesh, met with an accident on 09.05.2012 and succumbed to the injuries subsequently. His wife, children and father filed claim petition before the Tribunal for compensation of Rs.10,00,000/-. The Tribunal considering the entire evidence on record granted an amount of Rs.8,95,000/- - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010490292015 NC: 2026:KHC:37428 MFA No. 9510 of 2015 C/W MFA No. 3932 of 2015 with interest at the rate of 7.5% p.a., from the date of filing the petition till the date of deposit. 5. Aggrieved by the said order, the appellants/claimants preferred MFA No.9510/2015 contending that the Ramesh/deceased was working as a conductor and earning Rs.9,000/- per month. But the Tribunal erred in taking his income as Rs.4,000/- per month. The deceased/Ramesh was aged 35 years at the time of accident and the Tribunal adopted multiplier of '15' instead of '16'. The Tribunal has not granted reasonable amounts under the other heads. The interest is to be granted at the rate of 9% per annum. Therefore, requested for enhancement of the compensation. 6. The Branch Manager of IFFCO-TOKIO GIC Ltd., also filed MFA No.3932/2015 disputing the liability. Learned counsel for the appellant/insurance company contended that the deceased/Ramesh was travelling as a conductor in bus bearing Reg.No.KA-16-A-5093. At that time, the driver of the said bus driven the vehicle in a rash - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010490292015 NC: 2026:KHC:37428 MFA No. 9510 of 2015 C/W MFA No. 3932 of 2015 and negligent manner. As a result, the deceased/Ramesh fell down from the bus, sustained grievous injuries and succumbed to the injuries subsequently. The deceased/Ramesh was aged 35 years and was working as a conductor, earning Rs.9,000/- per month. But the Tribunal has taken his income as Rs.4,000/- per month, added 50% towards future prospects, deducted 1/4th of the income towards his personal expenses and applied the multiplier of '15'. It is further contended that the vehicle did not possess a valid permit as on the date of accident. The deceased/Ramesh was not having conductor licence. The deceased/Ramesh met with an accident due to his own negligence. As there is no permit, it amounts to violation of terms and conditions of the insurance policy. Therefore, the insurance company is not liable to pay the compensation. The Tribunal erred in taking 50% towards future prospects and therefore, requested for modification of the judgment and award passed by the Tribunal. - 8 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010490292015 NC: 2026:KHC:37428 MFA No. 9510 of 2015 C/W MFA No. 3932 of 2015 7. It is stated that one Ramesh was travelling as a conductor in the bus. But the insurance company objected the same on the ground that the deceased was not having any license. The vehicle involved in the accident was a private bus and no income proof is filed before the Tribunal. As the deceased met with an accident in the year 2012, this Court finds that it is just and reasonable to take his notional income as Rs.7,000/- per month, as per the chart prepared by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority. The deceased was aged 35 years and the relevant multiplier is '16'. The deceased wife, children and father filed claim petition. Therefore, 40% is to be added towards future prospects and one-fourth is to be deducted towards his personal expenses. Accordingly, the loss of dependency comes to Rs.14,11,200/- (7,000+40%x12x16-1/4th). The petitioner No.1 is entitled for an amount of Rs.40,000/- towards spousal consortium, petitioner Nos.2 and 3 are entitled for Rs.40,000/- each towards parental consortium, - 9 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010490292015 NC: 2026:KHC:37428 MFA No. 9510 of 2015 C/W MFA No. 3932 of 2015 respondent No.3 is entitled for Rs.40,000/- towards filial consortium and they are also entitled for Rs.30,000/- towards conventional heads. 8. Thus in all, compensation awarded by this Court is as below: 9. Hence, the appellants-claimants are entitled for a total compensation of Rs.16,01,200/- along with interest at the rate of 6% p.a. 10. Admittedly, there is no permit at the time of the accident. As per the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Amrit Paul Singh and Sl.Nos. Particulars Amount in Rs. 1 Towards loss of dependency 14,11,200/- 2 Towards spousal consortium 40,000/- 3 Towards parental consortium (petitioner No.2 and 3) 80,000/- 4. Towards filial consortium 40,000/- 3 Towards conventional heads 30,000/- Total 16,01,200/- - 10 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010490292015 NC: 2026:KHC:37428 MFA No. 9510 of 2015 C/W MFA No. 3932 of 2015 Another Vs. Tata AIG General Insurance Com. Ltd. and Others1, the insurance company is liable for pay and recovery. Therefore, insurance company is at liberty to recover the same from owner of the vehicle. 11. In the result, the following order is passed: ORDER i. MFA No.9510/2015 is allowed. ii. MFA No.3932/2015 is allowed in part. iii. The judgment and award dated 30.03.2015 passed in MVC No.457/2012 on the file of the II Additional Senior Civil Judge & Additional MACT-V, Chitradurga, is modified. iv. The claimants are entitled to a sum of Rs.16,01,200/- along with interest at 6% p.a., from the date of petition till the date 1 (2018) 7 SCC 558 - 11 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010490292015 NC: 2026:KHC:37428 MFA No. 9510 of 2015 C/W MFA No. 3932 of 2015 of realization, instead of Rs.8,95,000/- granted by the tribunal. v. Appellant/Insurance Company has already deposited the awarded amount before the Tribunal. Therefore, appellant/Insurance Company is directed to deposit the enhanced compensation of Rs.7,06,200/- along with the interest at the rate of 6% within one month from the date of this order. vi. On such deposit, petitioners/claimants are permitted to withdraw the entire amount along with interest accrued on the same. vii. Insurance company is at liberty to recover the same from the owner of the vehicle by due process of law. viii. The amount in deposit is to be transferred to the MACT. - 12 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010490292015 NC: 2026:KHC:37428 MFA No. 9510 of 2015 C/W MFA No. 3932 of 2015 ix. Registry is directed to send back the Trial Court records to the concerned Tribunal immediately. Sd/- (P SREE SUDHA) JUDGE AMA List No.: 1 Sl No.: 33