RAMAN Vs. UTTAR HARYANA BIJLI VITRAN NIGAM LT.& ORS
Supreme Court of India (Division Bench (DB)- Two Judge)
Appeal (Civil), 11466 of 2014, Judgment Date: Dec 17, 2014
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO.11466 OF 2014
(Arising out of SLP(C) NO. 8113 OF 2014)
RAMAN .........APPELLANT
Vs.
UTTAR HARYANA BIJLI VITRAN
NIGAM LTD.& ORS. .........RESPONDENTS
J U D G M E N T
V.GOPALA GOWDA, J.
Leave granted.
2. The appellant, represented through his natural guardian father -
Manoj Kumar, has filed this appeal questioning the judgment and order dated
30.10.2013 passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Punjab and
Haryana at Chandigarh in the Letters Patent Appeal No.1631 of 2013 in Civil
Writ Petition No. 14046 of 2012.
3. The brief facts are stated herein:
The appellant, a four year old boy was electrocuted on 03.11.2011 by coming
in direct contact with the naked electric wire lying open on the roof of
his house. Immediately after the incident, the boy was taken for first aid
to a nearby R.M. Anand Hospital in Panipat, Haryana from where he was
referred to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak. The final
treatment was given at Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, where the doctors
left with no other option but to carry out triple amputation by removing
both his arms upto arm pit and left leg upto knee as the grievous injuries
suffered were not curable. On 08.02.2012, the disability certificate was
issued to the appellant certifying to be 100% permanent disability.
4. It is stated on behalf of the appellant that prior to this tragic
incident, on 16.08.2011 the appellant's father along with other neighbours
had approached the SDO, Chhajpur, Panipat i.e. respondent No. 3 through a
representation, to remove the iron angle from the vicinity of the
residential area, as it endangers the life of around 40 to 60 families
which is densely populated. But no action was taken by him.
5. The appellant approached the High Court by filing a writ petition under
Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking for an award of
compensation from the respondents on account of the negligence on the part
of the respondents which resulted in the tragic electric shock leading to
triple amputation of the appellant.
6. The said writ petition was opposed by the respondents by filing a
written statement denying the allegations made therein stating that the
iron angle found on the roof of the house was not installed by any employee
of the respondent electricity department. It is stated by the respondents
that the father of the appellant was to be squarely blamed for installing
the insulator himself on the roof of the house on which high tension wire
was erected to keep it at bay so as not to touch brick and mortal.
Therefore, neither the first respondent-Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam
Ltd. nor its employees can be held responsible or accountable for the
mishap occurred on the fateful day much less the damages or monetary
compensation to be awarded in favour of the appellant herein.
7. The learned Single Judge of the High Court adverted to Section 68 of
the Indian Electricity Act, 2003 (for short "the Act") and Rule 91 of the
Electricity Rules, 1956 (for short "the Rules") which lay down the
procedure of safety and protective devices to be provided for overhead
electric lines erected over any part of the street or public place or any
consumer's premises and mandate that those shall be protected with a device
approved by the Inspector for rendering the line electrically harmless in
case it breaks.
8. The learned Single Judge of the High Court further referred to Rules
29, 44 and 46 of the Rules which are statutory in nature which require the
electricity authorities to conduct periodical inspection of the lines
maintained by them and to take all such safety measures to prevent accident
and maintain the lines in such a manner that life and property of the
general public is protected. The learned Single Judge has considered the
position of law declared by this Court in catena of cases for awarding
compensation, particularly, the electrocution cases, and held the principle
of "strict liability" and consequential negligence in awarding compensation
in favour of the claimant against the State Electricity Board. This Court
and the various High Courts such as High Courts of Madras, Madhya Pradesh,
Orissa, Kerala and Gujarat have awarded compensation to the victims of
electrocution in exercise of the extraordinary and appellate jurisdiction,
and have held that the Electricity Board Supply Companies are duty bound to
take precautionary measures under the provisions of the Act. Therefore,
the learned Single Judge has held the electricity authority - the first
respondent to be liable to pay the compensation to the claimant
irrespective of the fact that the harm could have been avoided by the
consumer by taking precautionary measures. The learned Single Judge of the
High Court has referred to various judgments of this Court as well as the
aforesaid High Courts rendered under the Motor Vehicles Act for
determination and awarding just and reasonable compensation in favour of
the claimant, viz. General Manager, Kerala State Road Transport
Corporation, Trivandrum v. Susamma Thomas and Ors.[1], Sarla Dixit and Anr.
v. Balwant Yadav & Ors.[2], U.P. State Road Transport Corporation & Ors. v.
Trilok Chandra & Ors.[3], United India Insurance Co. Ltd. & Ors. v.
Patricia Jean Mahajan & Ors.[4] and Abati Bezbaruah v. Dy. Director
General, Geological Survey of India & Anr.[5] by applying the multiplier
method as specified in the schedule of the M.V. Act.
9. The learned Single Judge awarded compensation to the appellant and
issued directions to the respondent which runs into (xiii)
clauses/paragraphs. Therelevant paragraph Nos. (v) and (vi) of the judgment
of the learned Single Judge, prior to modification by the Division Bench of
the High Court in its judgment, are extracted below:
"v) In order to secure the financial and monetary future of the minor
Raman, it is directed that the respondent-Nigam would pay compensation of
Rs. 30 lacs to him immediately for loss of enjoyment of life, trauma
suffered and to act as a guard against neglect and dependence on others,
loss of future employability and the agony of it all, pain and mental shock
suffered and continue to be suffered by an irreconcilable event that has
completely changed the life of a family. This amount would when made
available with interest on reaching the age of 21 years act as a financial
security and building block for the future. The amount will be deposited
in a fixed deposit account in the name of the petitioner (minor) under
joint guardianship of the parents of Raman and the Engineer-in-Chief or his
nominee representing the respondent-Nigam, in a nationalised bank,
preferably in the State Bank of Patiala, Branch at Punjab and Haryana High
Court, Chandigarh. The amount is directed to be so deposited within 60
days of receipt of certified copy of this order failing which the amount
will carry 8.5% interest till deposit in the Bank where after the principal
amount will earn interest at bank rates for fixed deposits fixed from time
to time. However, the amount awarded under this head will only be
available to the minor Raman on attaining the age of majority i.e. 21
years. In case the minor Raman does not survive till the age of majority,
this amount with all interest accrued shall revert to the respondent-Nigam
with no claim on it by any third party or the parents or siblings of Raman.
This would ensure that the child is valued and cared for till he attains
majority.
vi) Since the above amount of Rs.30 lakhs would remain inaccessible to the
petitioner for his use he would require running income to meet his daily
expenses for paid caregivers/attendants or family help/labour equivalent to
such expenses and other bare and sundry expenses, which are quantified at
about Rs.20,000/- plus per month for life as at present. To earn interest
of Rs.20,000/- per month a corpus of Rs. 30 lakhs is required to be
invested in the Bank to earn interest @ 8.5% being current rates on long
term fixed deposits. Therefore, in addition to Rs.30 Lakhs as awarded in
direction (v), the respondent-Nigam would pay and deposit compensation of a
further amount of Rs.30 lakhs to be kept in a separate interest bearing
account in the same bank as directed under point no. (v), under the same
joint guardianship arrangement. This will be an interest accruing account
with interest proceeds available to meet the day-to-day needs of the
petitioner. The interest so accrued will be transferred in a separate
savings bank account to be opened in the same branch in minor Raman's name
to be operated jointly by the parents payable to the petitioner on regular
monthly basis to be applied for the care of the child by the parents, his
educational expenses, nutritious food, costs of attendants/care givers to
minister to him day after day etc. The above amount of Rs.30 lacks from
which interest will be used for the petitioner from month to month will
also not be allowed to be withdrawn for any purpose, till the petitioner
attains the age of 21, without obtaining orders from this Court, if
circumstances so warrant, except the monthly interest as directed. The
State Bank of Patiala, Branch at Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh
would open the said Savings Bank Account in the name of the minor; under
the guardianship of mother and father and transfer the said savings Bank
Account to the Branch nearest to the residence of the petitioner and the
bank would remit the interest accrued thereon every month to the said
savings account at Panipat Branch, to be auto-renewed till the petitioner
reaches the age of 21 years. The amount is directed to be so deposited
within 60 days of receipt of certified copy of this order failing which the
amount will carry 8.5% interest till deposit in the bank where after the
principal amount will earn interest at bank rates for fixed deposits from
time to time."
In addition to the compensation awarded by the learned Single Judge in
the above terms in favour of the appellant, certain other directions were
also given to the respondents for its compliance to avert any unfortunate
electrocution accidents in future.
10. Being aggrieved of the judgment and order dated 02.07.2013 of the
learned Single Judge, the respondents filed the LPA in the High Court
urging various grounds and prayed to set aside the same. The Division
Bench of the High Court on 30.10.2013 passed a cryptic order while
partially allowing the LPA filed by the respondents on the basis of the
alleged concession given by the advocate on behalf of the appellant,
holding that the learned counsel for the parties have obtained requisite
instructions and they are ad idem that instant appeal be disposed of on the
following agreed terms, which read thus:-
"(1) The impugned order is accepted by the parties, except to the extent of
modification hereinafter specified.
(2) The amount of Rs. 30 lakhs specified in clause (v) of the direction
would be deposited in the State Bank of Patiala, Panipat Branch, instead of
Branch at Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh.
(3) This amount will be deposited within 10 days in the account number
given to the appellants and to be converted immediately into FDR in terms
of directions contained in same sub-para;and
(4) The directions given in sub-para (vi) will stand substituted by a
direction to pay a sum of Rs.10,000/-p.m. on or before 7th of every month
in advance, directly to the bank account already intimated and such
payment will continue to be made till the minor attains the age of 21
years."
11. It is urged by the learned senior counsel on behalf of the appellant
Mr. Sushil Kumar Jain that the unfortunate appellant boy or his parents who
are his natural guardians in the proceedings were unaware of the nexus of
their advocate with the respondents and when they came to know about the
order passed in LPA, a legal notice dated 27.01.2014 was sent to his
advocate for purging from breach of trust and for committing professional
misconduct under the Advocates Act, 1961 in giving concession before the
Division Bench of the High Court without their either oral or written
instructions.
Hence, the appellant has approached this Court with this appeal
questioning the correctness of the impugned judgment and order of the
Division Bench of the High Court by urging various grounds.
12. The learned senior counsel on behalf of the appellant has contended
that the order of the Division Bench of the High Court reducing the
compensation amount awarded by the learned Single Judge from Rs. 60 lakhs
to Rs.30 lakhs and reducing the monthly payment from Rs.20,000/- to
Rs.10,000/-, till he attains the age of 21 years, on account of ad idem,
which in fact is arbitrary, unreasonable and is not correct, as the
appellant has not given such instructions to his lawyer to give concessions
before the Division Bench for reducing the compensation awarded by the
learned Single Judge.
13. It is further urged by the learned senior counsel on behalf of the
appellant that the Division Bench of the High Court was required to examine
the case keeping in mind the nature of grievous injuries sustained by the
appellant in the electrocution accident and the compensation awarded by the
learned Single Judge under sub-para (vi) should not have been modified to
the extent of payment of Rs.10,000/-p.m. in place of Rs.20,000/- p.m. as
per the impugned judgment, on the basis of the alleged instructions
received by the counsel from the appellant and disposed of the appeal by
passing impugned judgment by reducing compensation awarded in favour of the
appellant, which action of it is wholly unsustainable in law and therefore,
the same is liable to be set aside.
14. On the other hand, Mr. Narendra Hooda, the learned senior counsel
appearing on behalf of the respondents submitted that there is no reduction
of compensation awarded by the learned senior counsel, except modification
made as mentioned at para 4 in the impugned judgment to the extent of
Rs.10,000/- p.m. instead of Rs.20,000/-p.m. towards monthly expenses of the
appellant which would not affect the rights of the appellant and hence, he
has prayed for dismissal of the appeal as the same is devoid of merit.
15. We have heard learned senior counsel for the parties who have made
their respective submissions in support of their respective claim which
were carefully examined by us with reference to the undisputed facts,
particularly, the amputation of both the arms upto the arm pit and the left
leg upto knee which has resulted in 100% permanent disability caused to the
appellant as per the Doctor's certificate which is produced in the case.
16. Having regard to the age of the boy as 5 years at the time of the
incidence and longevity of life of Indian citizen as 70 years, the
remaining 65 years the appellant is required to suffer from mental agony
and hardship. He is virtually dead wood and further he has to undergo
continuous pain and suffering at the time of attending the nature's call,
sitting, standing, walking and sleeping. He has to face difficulties on all
walks of life, which is worse than death. His childhood is lost, the
marital status and happiness is lost, which cannot be compensated in terms
of money. He has to undergo the great ordeal and agony throughout his
life. He requires a permanent attendant throughout his lifetime to assist
him for all purposes, to whom the appellant is required to pay minimum at
an average of Rs.10,000/- to Rs.15,000/- p.m. and it is a hard reality that
the cost of living in our country is also steadily increasing day by day.
This aspect of the matter should have been taken into consideration by the
Division Bench of the High Court at the time of reducing the compensation
awarded to the appellant.
17. The learned Single Judge of the High Court has awarded compensation
keeping all these aspects of the matter and has applied the guiding
principle of multiplier method after adverting to the case of Sarla Verma &
Ors. v. Delhi Transport Corporation & Anr[6]. for the purpose of
computation of just and reasonable compensation in favour of the appellant
which method should not have been applied to the case on hand,
particularly, having regard to the statutory negligence on the part of the
respondents in not providing the safety measures to see that live electric
wires should not fall on the roof of the building by strictly following the
Rules to protect the lives of the public in the residential area. This
Court in the case of Dr. Balram Prasad v. Kunal Saha[7], has deviated from
following the multiplier method to award just and reasonable compensation
in favour of the claimant in a medical negligence case. The same principle
will hold good in the case on hand too. The following case law is followed
by this Court in the above referred case, the relevant paragraphs are
extracted herein to award just and reasonable compensation in favour of the
appellant:
68. ........ three-Judge Bench decision of this Court in Indian Medical
Assn. v. V.P. Shantha, wherein this Court has categorically disagreed on
this specific point in another case wherein "medical negligence" was
involved. In the said decision, it has been held at para 53 that to deny a
legitimate claim or to restrict arbitrarily the size of an award would
amount to substantial injustice to the claimant.
*********
99. In Govind Yadav v. New India Insurance Co. Ltd. this Court at para 15
observed as under which got reiterated at SCC pp. 639-40, para 13 of
Ibrahim v. Raju:
"15. In Reshma Kumari v. Madan Mohan
[(2009) 13 SCC 422] this Court reiterated that the compensation awarded
under the Act should be just and also identified the factors which should
be kept in mind while determining the amount of compensation. The relevant
portions of the judgment are extracted below:
26. The compensation which is required to be determined must be just. While
the claimants are required to be compensated for the loss of their
dependency, the same should not be considered to be a windfall. Unjust
enrichment should be discouraged. This Court cannot also lose sight of the
fact that in given cases, as for example death of the only son to a mother,
she can never be compensated in monetary terms.
[pic]27. The question as to the methodology required to be applied for
determination of compensation as regards prospective loss of future
earnings, however, as far as possible should be based on certain
principles. A person may have a bright future prospect; he might have
become eligible to promotion immediately; there might have been chances of
an immediate pay revision, whereas in another (sic situation) the nature of
employment was such that he might not have continued in service; his chance
of promotion, having regard to the nature of employment may be distant or
remote. It is, therefore, difficult for any court to lay down rigid tests
which should be applied in all situations. There are divergent views. In
some cases it has been suggested that some sort of hypotheses or guesswork
may be inevitable. That may be so.
XXX XXX XXX
46. In the Indian context several other factors should be taken into
consideration including education of the dependants and the nature of job.
In the wake of changed societal conditions and global scenario, future
prospects may have to be taken into consideration not only having regard to
the status of the employee, his educational qualification; his past
performance but also other relevant factors, namely, the higher salaries
and perks which are being offered by the private companies these days. In
fact while determining the multiplicand this Court in Oriental Insurance
Co. Ltd. v. Jashuben held that even dearness allowance and perks with
regard thereto from which the family would have derived monthly benefit,
must be taken into consideration.
47. One of the incidental issues which has also to be taken into
consideration is inflation. Is the practice of taking inflation into
consideration wholly incorrect? Unfortunately, unlike other developed
countries, in India there has been no scientific study. It is expected that
with the rising inflation the rate of interest would go up. In India it
does not happen. It, therefore, may be a relevant factor which may be taken
into consideration for determining the actual ground reality. No hard-and-
fast rule, however, can be laid down therefor.'
********
101. .......................... he has also strongly placed reliance upon
the observations made at para 170 in Malay Kumar Ganguly's case referred
to supra wherein this Court has made observations as thus: (SCC p. 282)
"170. Indisputably, grant of compensation involving an accident is within
the realm of law of torts. It is based on the principle of restitutio in
integrum. The said principle provides that a person entitled to damages
should, as nearly as possible, get that sum of money which would put him in
the same position as he would have been if he had not sustained the wrong.
(See Livingstone v. Rawyards Coal Co.)"
**********
103.1. In Ningamma's case, this Court has observed at para 34 which reads
thus: (SCC p. 721)
"34. .......in our considered opinion a party should not be deprived from
getting 'just compensation' in case the claimant is able to make out a case
under any provision of law. Needless to say, the MVA is beneficial and
welfare legislation. In fact, the court is duty-bound and entitled to award
'just compensation' irrespective of the fact whether any plea in that
behalf was raised by the claimant or not."
*********
112. The claimant has also placed reliance upon Nizam's Institute of
Medical Sciences v. Prasanth S.Dhananka's [(2009) 2 SCC 688] case in
support of his submission that if a case is made out, then the Court must
not be chary of awarding adequate compensation. The relevant paragraph
reads as under:
"88. We must emphasise that the court has to strike a balance between the
inflated and unreasonable demands of a victim and the equally untenable
claim of the opposite party saying that nothing is payable. Sympathy for
the victim does not, and should not, come in the way of making a correct
assessment, but if a case is made out, the court must not be chary of
awarding adequate compensation. The 'adequate compensation' that we speak
of, must to some extent, be a rule of thumb measure, and as a balance has
to be struck, it would be difficult to satisfy all the parties concerned."
Further in para 119, it is held ......this Court has rejected the use
of multiplier system to calculate and award the quantum of compensation
which must be just and reasonable. The relevant paragraph is quoted
hereunder: (SCC para 92)
"92. Mr Tandale, the learned counsel for the respondent has, further
submitted that the proper method for determining compensation would be the
multiplier method. We find absolutely no merit in this plea. The kind of
damage that the complainant has suffered, the expenditure that he has
incurred and is likely to incur in the future and the possibility that his
[pic]rise in his chosen field would now be restricted, are matters which
cannot be taken care of under the multiplier method."
(emphasis supplied)
Further under paragraph No. 121, the relevant paragraph from United
India Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Patricia Jean Mahajan read as under: (SCC pp.
295-96, paras 20)
"20. The court cannot be totally oblivious to the realities. The Second
Schedule while prescribing the multiplier, had maximum income of Rs 40,000
p.a. in mind, but it is considered to be a safe guide for applying the
prescribed multiplier in cases of higher income also but in cases where the
gap in income is so wide as in the present case income is 2,26,297 dollars,
in such a situation, it cannot be said that some deviation in the
multiplier would be impermissible. Therefore, a deviation from applying the
multiplier as provided in the Second Schedule may have to be made in this
case. Apart from factors indicated earlier the amount of multiplicand also
becomes a factor to be taken into account which in this case comes to
2,26,297 dollars, that is to say, an amount of around Rs 68 lakhs per annum
by converting it at the rate of Rs 30. By Indian standards it is certainly
a high amount. Therefore, for the purposes of fair compensation, a lesser
multiplier can be applied to a heavy amount of multiplicand. A deviation
would be reasonably permissible in the figure of multiplier even according
to the observations made in Susamma Thomas where a specific example was
given about a person dying at the age of 45 leaving no heirs being a
bachelor except his parents."
(emphasis supplied)
Further, in paragraph 177, it was held as under:-
"177. Under the heading of loss due to pain and suffering and loss of
amenities of the wife of the claimant, Kemp and Kemp write as under:
"The award to a plaintiff of damages under the head "pain and suffering"
depends as Lord Scarman said in Lim Poh Choo v. Camden and Islington Area
health Authority, "upon the claimant's personal awareness of pain, her
capacity of suffering. Accordingly, no award is appropriate if and in so
far as the claimant has not suffered and is not likely to suffer pain, and
has not endured and is not likely to endure suffering, for example, because
he was rendered immediately and permanently unconscious in the accident. By
contrast, an award of damages in respect of loss of amenities is
appropriate whenever there is in fact such a loss regardless of the
claimant's awareness of the loss."
XXX XXX XXX
'Even though the claimant may die from his injuries shortly after the
accident, the evidence may justify an award under this head. Shock should
also be taken account of as an ingredient of pain and suffering and the
claimant's particular circumstances may well be highly relevant to the
extent of her suffering. ..........'
By considering the nature of amenities lost and the injury and pain in the
particular case, the court must assess the effect upon the particular
claimant. In deciding the appropriate award of damages, an important
consideration show long will he be deprived of those amenities and how long
the pain and suffering has been and will be endured. If it is for the rest
of his life the court will need to take into account in assessing damages
the claimant's age and his expectation in life......."
(emphasis supplied)
18. Further, in the case of Rekha Jain v. National Insurance Co. Ltd.[8]
this Court at paras 34 and 35, with regard to the quantum of damages, has
held as under:
"34...........In deciding on the quantum of damages to be paid to a person
for the personal injuries suffered by him, the Court is bound to ascertain
all considerations which will make good to the sufferer of the injuries, as
far as money can do, the loss which he has suffered as a natural
consequence of the wrong done to him. [K. Narasimha Murthy vs. the Manager,
Oriental Insurance Company Limited and Anr.]. [ILR 2004 KAR 2471]
35.........Therefore, the general principle which should govern the
assessment of damages in personal injury cases is that the Court should
award to injured person such a sum of money as will put him in the same
position as he would have been in if he had not sustained the injuries.
But, it is manifest that no award of money can possibly compensate an
injured man and renew a shattered human frame."
39.....In Mediana, in re [1900 AC 113 (HL)], it is held at para 32 which is
extracted as herein
'......... 32....In personal injury cases, the Court is constantly required
to form an estimate of chances and risks which cannot be determined with
precision. It is because, the law will disregard possibilities which are
slight or chances which are nebulous; otherwise, all the circumstances of
the situation must be taken into account, whether they relate to the future
which the plaintiff would have enjoyed if the accident had not happened, or
to the future of his injuries and his earning power after the accident.
Damages are compensation for an injury or loss, that is to say, the full
equivalent of money so far as the nature of money admits; and difficulty or
uncertainty does not prevent an assessment.' [K. Narasimha Murthy vs. the
Manager, Oriental Insurance Company Limited and Anr.] [ILR 2004 KAR 2471]
In Fowler v. Grace, [(1970) 114 Sol Jo 193 (CA)] Edmund Davies, L.J.,
has said that:
"It is the manifest duty of the Tribunal to give as perfect a sum as was
within its power'. There are many losses which cannot easily be expressed
in terms of money. If a person, in an accident, loses his sight, hearing or
smelling faculty or a limb, value of such deprivation cannot be assessed in
terms of market value because there is no market value for the personal
asset which has been lost in the accident, and there is no easy way of
expressing its equivalent in terms of money."
41. McGregor on Damages (14th Edn.) at Para 1157, referring to the heads of
damages in personal injury actions, states as under:
"The person physically injured may recover both for his pecuniary losses
and his non-pecuniary losses. Of these the pecuniary losses themselves
comprise two separate items viz. the loss of earnings and [pic]other gains
which the plaintiff would have made had he not been injured and the medical
and other expenses to which he is put as a result of the injury, and the
courts have subdivided the non-pecuniary losses into three categories viz.
pain and suffering, loss of amenities of life and loss of expectation of
life.
Besides, the Court is well advised to remember that the measures of
damages in all these cases 'should be such as to enable even a tortfeasor
to say that he had amply atoned for his misadventure.' The observation of
Lord Devlin that the proper approach to the problem or to adopt a test as
to what contemporary society would deem to be a fair sum, such as would
allow the wrongdoer to 'hold up his head among his neighbours and say with
their approval that he has done the fair thing', is quite apposite to be
kept in mind by the Court in assessing compensation in personal injury
cases."
(emphasis supplied)
42. In R. Venkatesh v. P. Saravanan the High Court of Karnataka while
dealing with a personal injury case wherein the claimant sustained certain
crushing injuries due to which his left lower limb was amputated, held that
in terms of functional disability, the disability sustained by the claimant
is total and 100% though only the claimant's left lower limb was amputated.
In para 9 of the judgment, the Court held as under: (Kant LJ p. 415)
'9. As a result of the amputation, the claimant had been rendered a
cripple. He requires the help of crutches even for walking. He has become
unfit for any kind of manual work. As he was earlier a loader doing manual
work, the amputation of his left leg below the knee, has rendered him unfit
for any kind of manual work. He has no education. In such cases, it is well
settled that the economic and functional disability will have to be treated
as total, even though the physical disability is not 100%.'
43. Lord Reid in Baker v. Willoughby has said: (AC p. 492A)
"... A man is not compensated for the physical injury: he is compensated
for the loss which he suffers as a result of that injury. His loss is not
in having a stiff leg: it is in his inability to lead a full life, his
inability to enjoy those amenities which depend on freedom of movement and
his inability to earn as much as he used to earn or could have earned...."
19. In view of the law laid down by this Court in the above referred cases
which are extensively considered and granted just and reasonable
compensation, in our considered view, the compensation awarded at Rs. 60
lakhs in the judgment of the learned Single Judge of the High Court, out of
which 30 lakhs were to be deposited jointly in the name of the appellant
represented by his parents as natural guardian and the Chief Engineer or
his nominee representing the respondent-Nigam in a nationalised Bank in a
fixed deposit till he attains the age of majority, is just and proper but
we have to set aside that portion of the judgment of the learned Single
Judge directing that if he survives, he is permitted to withdraw the
amount, otherwise the deposit amount shall be reverted back to the
respondents as the same is not legal and valid for the reason that once
compensation amount is awarded by the court, it should go to the
claimant/appellant. Therefore, the victims/claimants are legally entitled
for compensation to be awarded in their favour as per the
principles/guiding factors laid down by this Court in catena of cases,
particularly, in Kunal Saha's case referred to supra. Therefore, the
compensation awarded by the Motor Vehicle Tribunals/Consumer Forums/State
Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions/National Consumer Disputes
Redressal Commission or the High Courts would absolutely belong to such
victims/claimants. If the claimants die, then the Succession Act of their
respective religion would apply to succeed to such estate by the legal
heirs of victims/ claimants or legal representatives as per the
testamentary document if they choose to execute the will indicating their
desire as to whom such estate shall go after their death. For the
aforesaid reasons, we hold that portion of the direction the of the learned
Single Judge contained in sub-para (v), to the effect of Rs. 30 lakhs
compensation to be awarded in favour of the appellant, if he is not alive
at the time he attains majority, the same shall revert back to the
respondent-Nigam after paying Rs.5 lakhs to the parents of the appellant,
is wholly unsustainable and is liable to be set aside. Accordingly, we set
aside the same and modify the same as indicated in the operative portion of
the order.
20. The remaining compensation amount of Rs. 30 lakhs to be deposited in a
fixed deposit account in the name of the petitioner (minor) under joint
guardianship of the parents of Raman and the Engineer-in-Chief or his
nominee representing the respondent-Nigam, in the Nationalised Bank as
corpus fund, out of which an interest of Rs.20,000/- p.m. towards the
expenses as indicated in sub-para (vi) of the order passed by the learned
Single Judge, cannot be said to be on the higher side, but in our view, the
said amount of compensation awarded is less and not reasonable and having
regard to the nature of 100% permanent disability suffered by the
appellant, it should have been much higher as the appellant requires
permanent assistance of an attendant, treatment charges as he is suffering
from agony and loss of marital life, which cannot be compensated by the
amount of compensation awarded by the learned Singh Judge of the High
Court. Hence, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, it
would be just and proper for this Court to restore the judgment of the
learned Single Judge on this count and we hold that the directions
contained in the said judgment are justifiable to the extent indicated
above. The Division Bench while exercising its appellate jurisdiction
should not have accepted the alleged requisite instructions received by the
counsel on behalf of the appellant and treated as ad idem and modified
the amount as provided under sub-para (vi) of the order of the learned
Single Judge and substituted the para 4 in its judgment as indicated in the
aforesaid portion of the judgment which is wholly unreasonable and
therefore, it is unsustainable in law as it would affect the right of the
appellant for getting his legal entitlement of just and reasonable
compensation for the negligence on the part of the respondents.
21. In view of the foregoing reasons, after considering rival legal
contentions and noticing the 100% permanent disability suffered by the
appellant in the electrocution accident on account of which he lost all the
amenities and become a deadwood throughout his life, and after adverting
the law laid down by this Court in catena of cases in relation to the
guiding principles to be followed to award just and reasonable compensation
in favour of the appellant, we pass the following order:-
The appeal is allowed after setting aside the substituted paragraph No.4 of
the impugned judgment and order of the Division Bench of the High Court
particularly, in place of sub para (vi) of the judgment and order of the
learned Single Judge with modifications made by us in this judgment in the
following terms.
We restore the compensation awarded at sub-paras (v) and (vi) of the order
of the learned single Judge:
(a) in the modified form that the compensation is awarded with direction to
the respondents to keep Rs.30 lakhs in the Nationalised Bank in the name of
the appellant represented by his father as a natural guardian till the age
of attaining majority of the appellant.
(b) The further direction contained in the judgment of the learned Single
Judge that if the appellant is not alive at the time of attaining the age
of majority, the deposit amount shall be reverted to the respondents, is
set aside.
(c) We further declare that the said amount of compensation of Rs.30 lakhs
exclusively belongs to the appellant and after his demise it must go to the
legal heirs or representatives as it is the exclusive estate of the
appellant as the it is the compensation awarded to him for the 100%
permanent disability suffered by him due to electrocution on account of the
negligence of the respondents. The monthly interest that would be earned
during the period of his minority shall be withdrawn by the appellant's
guardian and spend the same towards his monthly expenses and after he
attains the majority, it is open for him either to continue the deposit or
withdraw the same and appropriate for himself or his legal heirs or legal
representative, if he does not survive.
(d) The deposit of Rs. 30 lakhs as corpus amount as directed at sub-
para(vi) of the judgment of the learned Single Judge shall be in the name
of the appellant exclusively represented by his natural guardians/parents
till he attains majority, the income that would be earned on such deposit
amount can be drawn by the parents every month to be spent for personal
expenses. The Bank in which the deposit is made in the name of Chief
Engineer shall be deleted and the name of the appellant shall be entered as
directed above. After attaining the age of majority, the appellant is at
liberty to withdraw the above said amount also. If for any reason the
appellant does not stay alive, his heirs/legal representatives can withdraw
the said amount.
(e) The other directions in the judgment of the learned Single Judge to the
respondents for compliance shall remain intact, the same shall be complied
with and the report shall be submitted before the learned Single Judge.
The appeal is allowed in the above said terms, but without
costs.
...................................j.
[V. GOPALA GOWDA]
.................................J.
[C. NAGAPPAN]
New Delhi,
December 17, 2014
ITEM NO.1B-For JUDGMENT COURT NO.11 SECTION IVB
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
C.A. No. ......../2014 arising from SLP (C) No(s).8113/2014
RAMAN Petitioner(s)
VERSUS
UTTAR HARYANA BIJLI VITRAN NIGAM LT.& ORS Respondent(s)
Date : 17/12/2014 This appeal was called on for pronouncement of JUDGMENT
today.
CORAM :
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V. GOPALA GOWDA
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. NAGAPPAN
For Petitioner(s) Mr. Sushil Kr. Jain, Sr. Adv.
Ms. Anisha Jain, Adv.
Mr. Nitin Jain, Adv.
Dr. (Mrs.) Vipin Gupta,Adv.
For Respondent(s) Mr. Narendera Hooda, Adv.
Mr. Manoj Dwivedi, Adv.
Mr. Kamal Mohan Gupta,Adv.
Hon'ble Mr. Justice V.Gopala Gowda pronounced the judgment of
the Bench comprising His Lordship and Hon'ble Mr. Justice C. Nagappan.
Leave granted.
The appeal is allowed in terms of the signed reportable
judgment.
(VINOD KR.JHA) (MALA KUMARI SHARMA)
COURT MASTER COURT MASTER
(Signed Reportable judgment is placed on the file)
-----------------------
[1] (1994) 2 SCC 176
[2] (1996) 3 SCC 179
[3] (1996) 4 SCC 362
[4] (2002) 6 SCC 306
[5] (2003) 3 SCC 148
[6] (2009) 6 SCC 121
[7] (2014) 1 SCC 384
[8] (2013) 8 SCC 389
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