- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010369172026 NC: 2026:KHC:56074 MFA No. 4000 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO. 4000 OF 2026 (MV-I) BETWEEN: CHETHAN S @ CHATAAN, S/O P.S.R. SATHISH REDDY, NOW AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.384/385/386, 18TH 'E' MAIN ROAD, 6TH BLOCK, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU – 560 095. …APPELLANT (BY SRI. GOPAL KRISHNA N., ADVOCATE; SMT. SUSHMITHA G., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. MURUGAN T., MAJOR IN AGE, RESIDING AT NO.2043, 23RD MAIN, 13TH CROSS, 1ST SECTOR, H.S.R.LAYOUT, BENGALURU – 560 102. 2. THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO. LTD., REGIONAL OFFICE, NO.9/2, MAHALAKSHMI CHAMBERS, M.G.ROAD, BENGALURU - 560 001. REP: BY ITS MANAGER. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MALLIKARJUN REDDY N.A., ADVOCATE; SRI. A.M. VENKATESH FOR R2; V/O. DT 17/06/2026, NOTICE TO R1 D/W) Digitally Signed By: SHIVASHANKAR BASAPPA AMARANNAVAR JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010369172026 NC: 2026:KHC:56074 MFA No. 4000 of 2026 THIS MFA IS FILED U/S.173(1) OF MV ACT, AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD DATED. 10/07/2024 PASSED IN MVC NO. 4431/2021 ON THE FILE OF THE VI ADDL. JUDGE, COURT OF SMALL CAUSES AND ADDL. CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE AND MACT, BENGALURU., PARTLY ALLOWING THE CLAIM PETITION FOR COMPENSATION AND SEEKING ENHANCEMENT OF COMPENSATION AND ETC., THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR ORAL JUDGMENT This appeal is filed by the appellant -claimant seeking enhancement of compensation awarded in judgment and award dated 10.07.2024 passed in MVC No.4431/2021 by the VI Additional Judge, Court of Small Causes and Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and MACT, Bengaluru (SCCH-2). 2. Even though the appeal is listed today for admission, it is taken up for disposal with the consent of learned counsel for appellant and learned counsel for respondent No.2 –insurer. 3. The appellant made a claim petition praying to award compensation for the injuries sustained by him in a Digitally Signed By: SHIVASHANKAR BASAPPA AMARANNAVAR JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010369172026 NC: 2026:KHC:56074 MFA No. 4000 of 2026 road traffic accident occurred on 22.05.2017 contending that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the driver of Car bearing registration No.KA- 03/ML-6781. The Tribunal after recording the evidence of the parties, appreciating the evidence assessed the compensation and awarded compensation under various heads as under: Sl.No. Heads Amount in (Rs.) 01. Towards Pain and Suffering 30,000/- 02. Towards Medical Expenses 1,23,647/- 03. Towards Food, nourishment and attendant charges 8,000/- 04. Towards loss of future amenities and happiness 15,000/- 05. Towards loss of future income 3,56,400/- 06 Towards loss of income during the laid up period 22,000/- Total 5,55,047/- 4. The Tribunal also awarded interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of petition till realization and directed respondent No.2 -insurer to deposit the award amount with interest. The claimant seeking Digitally Signed By: SHIVASHANKAR BASAPPA AMARANNAVAR JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010369172026 NC: 2026:KHC:56074 MFA No. 4000 of 2026 enhancement of compensation has filed the present appeal. 5. Heard learned counsel for the appellant and learned counsel for respondent No.2 –insurer. 6. The accident occurred on 22.05.2017 and as on the date of accident the claimant was aged 23 years. Considering the said age of the claimant, the Tribunal has rightly taken multiplier ‘18’ and considering the year of the accident, the Tribunal has rightly taken the notional income at Rs.11,000/-. 7. The claimant has sustained the following injuries: i) Right ear bleeding 2 degree to right Parieto –Temperal bone ii) Subarochnoid hemorrhage and subdural hemorrhage Considering the said injuries sustained by the claimant, the compensation awarded towards pain and Digitally Signed By: SHIVASHANKAR BASAPPA AMARANNAVAR JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010369172026 NC: 2026:KHC:56074 MFA No. 4000 of 2026 suffering in a sum of Rs.30,000/- is enhanced to Rs.60,000/- and loss of amenities awarded in a sum of Rs.15,000/- is enhanced to Rs.40,000/-. The claimant has been admitted in the hospital for 08 days and considering the same, the compensation awarded towards attendant, conveyance charges, food and nourishment etc., in a sum of Rs.8,000/- by the Tribunal is proper. Based on the documents produced, The Tribunal has rightly awarded medical expenses of Rs.1,23,647/-. Considering the said injuries sustained, the claimant has to take rest at least for 03 months and therefore, he is entitled to loss of income during laid up period in a sum Rs.33,000/- (Rs.11,000/- x 03 months) as against Rs.22,000/- awarded by the Tribunal. 8. P.W.3 is doctor is a neurosurgeon and he has assessed the disability at 41% to the whole body and the Tribunal has taken disability at 15%. P.W.3 doctor has assessed disability based on Ex.P23 - Neuro Behavioral and Cognitive Assessment Report issued by Dr.Pratiba Digitally Signed By: SHIVASHANKAR BASAPPA AMARANNAVAR JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010369172026 NC: 2026:KHC:56074 MFA No. 4000 of 2026 Sharan. The said Dr. Pratiba Sharan, author of Ex.P23, is not examined. P.W.1 - claimant -injured himself has given evidence and faced cross-examination. Considering the injuries sustained and avocation of the claimant i.e., business, functional disability is to be taken at 20%. Since disability taken is 20%, the claimant is entitled for future prospects at 40%. In view of the above, the loss of future income due to disability is calculated as under: Rs.11,000/- x12 x18 x 20% + 40% =Rs.6,65,280/-. 9. In view of the above, the claimant is entitled to total compensation under various heads as under: Sl.No. Heads Amount in (Rs.) 01. Towards Pain and Suffering 60,000/- 02. Towards Medical Expenses 1,23,647/- 03. Towards Food, nourishment and attendant charges 8,000/- 04. Towards loss of future amenities and happiness 40,000/- 05. Towards loss of future income 6,65,280/- 06 Towards loss of income during the laid up period 33,000/- Total 9,29,927/- Digitally Signed By: SHIVASHANKAR BASAPPA AMARANNAVAR JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010369172026 NC: 2026:KHC:56074 MFA No. 4000 of 2026 The claimant is entitled to total compensation of Rs.9,29,927/- as against Rs.5,55,047/- as awarded by the Tribunal with interest. Consequently, the claimant is entitled to enhanced compensation of Rs.3,74,880/- with interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of petition till realization. The appellant –claimant is not entitled to interest for delay period of 586 days in filing the appeal as per order dated 07.10.2026 passed on IA No.1/2026. Respondent No.2 -insurer is liable to pay the said enhanced compensation with interest. 10. In view of the above, the following ORDER i) The appeal is allowed in part. ii) The appellant is entitled to enhanced compensation of Rs.3,74,880/- with interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of petition till realization. Digitally Signed By: SHIVASHANKAR BASAPPA AMARANNAVAR JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 8 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010369172026 NC: 2026:KHC:56074 MFA No. 4000 of 2026 iii) The appellant –claimant is not entitled interest for delay period of 586 days in filing the appeal iv) Respondent No.2 -insurer shall deposit the said enhanced compensation with interest before the Tribunal within a period of 06 weeks from this day. v) The appellant claimant is entitled to release of 50% of the enhanced compensation and the remaining 50% shall be kept in fixed deposit in the name of claimant in Karnataka Bank, City Civil Court Branch, Bengaluru for a period of 03 years. (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE DSP List No.: 1 Sl No.: 30 CT:ABS Digitally Signed By: SHIVASHANKAR BASAPPA AMARANNAVAR JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA