Karnataka High Court
United India Insurance Co Ltd vs Baiju on 7 August, 2008
Equivalent citations: 2009 (6) AIR KANT HCR 238, 2010 A I H C 75, (2010) 2 TAC 595, (2010) 2 KANT LJ 512, (2010) 3 ACJ 1533, (2011) 2 ALLCRILR 538, (2009) 3 KCCR 2223, (2010) 1 ACC 625
31:23»: saifafriiiammg RAG, Aux; } IE THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT Lmmn mzs rm: 7%: DAY er AUGUS';'__ ;k%2'éa:g%%%j f "ms KOWBLE am.JUs'r1cE 'V,G(}I?Q.I.g§L» ms HON'BLE nm.JUsTxc Ef= _;!g.F.A_._. No.66'? I 3,995 199 12005 mv; A1mm*FA§63;*o5 IN mm.567g2m~:4@;; % 5 BETWEEN: 4% L J A, 1 UE~$§T:ED {N315 ;N$L?R;%3fCE 31:0 LTD <:AL1(f:m* BR.AN(;:H _ * L THROUGE %1TSVV.REGIC£x:AL OFFICE, 6% :25, S}§ANKARAN£;~_RA..'fA BLIILQING, M53; "ROAD, "B,A;"¥GALORE 1 R..'_'3IE"1'.B';{ DEP{--,F?E" MANAGER " PAS. {;'EfiiFU':ASA ... AP?Ei;LAE'tIT BAIJU A gem ABOUT 22 YEARS 5/0 mausaag Rf C) VALIGAYAGATH HOUSE rM BEPUR PQST, THAMBIVALAPEL COLGNY BKIXR. CAHCUT 6'?O 015 2 SEEARAMATH KHAN V AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS S/{Z} ABDUL IMADER TERLILLIBADAM % 331%? P08'? AND m..LTAGE$.% CALICUT', KERALA STATE} 3 N V HAMZA MAJOR 3/0 MAMAU KSYA % E/(3 s"L:?H1vA;;A.P1L 3 _ % PEUR POST CALICUT §é;EE'._ALA- 7:":3_'1'}'=J17E A %%%% & R2:smsmEr:'rs (83: Sri K18}-£{)E3E3 "s:::/R1, R3 & R2 SD} MFA FILEDU'/S}33iC >1?3~*(;:} 0? MV ACT AGAINST THE:
JU£)£T§MEI'-ff' AND "AWARE?" DATEE: 2.11.20~::>4 PASSED IN Ex;fE"g*':i1.._E*s¥Q..;:§iév3'Z_,!,2€103 QN'£'--7§%}"§ FILE OF THE DESTRICT JGDGE &=2\z:E:rv:33ER,":s%:Ac:*I%, UEUPI, AWARDING COMPEENSATIQN GE' RS.'1i,ia36;,'1_0@.,{#: . §§*:fI'H j{}f€'I'EREST AT 8% RA. ON 12$.1{j,.9e3,%1.er3,:";»i,A1*€??" MRECTING THE APPELLANF HEREIN jA.'m £rE£=::::gsr"r THE' SAME.
f A 1 A % 3 BAIJU AGED ABOUT 22 YEARS S/' O NAEESEEAD "______"_§""*>"'-s...--\_,...
in jfiameiy Bazijzx was travellixig fram Calicut A321} 1116 said temps: as an agent": af P.E¥.2 . 4_§§.:}:iVdi "was «rising business in fish, for pracuring fish fr::rm Malpe and the ciaimafit in {$16 ether crass , V _ Abubakksr Ssiddique was Uavemng in the said {amps ' as its c1€a:16r~<:1m1-iaader, they haw: I191: produeed 0:1 recfird ciaémant in M.V.C.N0.~'3O?/03 requires ta bgg cnhanceci er reduced to any extent?
Gut fimiiilgs on these paints are in favour sf objfictar ~--~ claimant hoiding that:
'the appeli:-3:13: -- iI1S1}I'€I' 'V compensation to both mg _i11juf:d '--c1aiméJ;1.fis in M.'J.C.Nos.407 and 5:7 was % ' ' campensatian awardecfby in favour 3f the claimant /0'3 'rtéigiaifires ta be enhanced £:m:« 1 :.~::t<>«/ ..1c:;;g; 15,46, :00 /.-
With far the, fOHGWi_1"_1g'H "<._: " 1" _:::_ ' T =._ I?iE__&8_GNS
4.; 8353; Rat), laamed ccunscl fer the apfpefle211' £';j-?"ir;$m;eI' cazltianéed mat though it is "am €356 Zcf 311 both the said cases that the (31-f-3.in183.'1t c-*5-\'"'~"' Mame fer pmcuring fish at M31136 as he was en3§1eyf¢e:iV_:
agent by P.W.2 Siddique for that purpose. O11 crass-examination of P.W.i made on_b§I;a}f §:t""'t§:é'_*£Ii's:1i*£r it" " czmld be seen that this porfien :35' ':e1%id6'I3:<:5€ <:xan1ir1ation«iI1--Chief has rexnézifieji t€'}'t£;fly_ [uVnC§:ai1$:1iged.'-L' Besidas this I~"~'.W.2 Siddiqufi éxzidt-£106 that he was doing fish busitiésé; name ané Style ef "C.S.C0n1pef1§;?_ lii'-.§1:1i<:L2t and that the said Baiju V'§?::';igfiI1c:ss and, 911 that day, ha wffizs transporfing fish from M33136 port 'a_:1{i : 833311 was 'traveiiing in the said tcmm - Malpe for the pumose sf 333$} 'firm .... Malpe :0 Caiicut. Theuglz it is $iigg'€-Sfezfi by the Earned cfiunséi for the insurer that the hired the said tempo (:11 his bérhaif ané .{§;é.:%.__ he (B.::§ij:1)v was I1{}t iravelling in the said temps fer fish at M31136, these: suggestisns am Specifically V'V:"d.fi§f§ieVd:% by P.w:2.
'________:**uf"""'\...é"""
5. 9.99.3 Abubakker Siddique who is c}ai:$é3_:€;é__%*;~._Vv§:"z M.V.C.Nc3.517/O3 has fitated in his on the: saird date, timc arid plact: 01' aggzidfint Ifi§¢":%?'a§}§V .¥;i'é1%;'¢1}i1i:.g' ' » in ths said tfimpa as cle3;I1€r«cun1¥'%Qa;*ier'TV ffom'; _<":a«iVVi:f%f£:.2:j{' Malpe for p1"'{}C?..1I'§I1g fish. 0:1 C;aIjés*Ta.;} r8é.'t¥i_I1g_d;€ tI3é:""<:2<i:ie:1ce'V ' cf P.W.3 in his Cross-éxanamaiiarlif"mafia 011' '§3fi3I'3..é33f 0f the insurer it Cczuid be seen ti'1':»1tT 'this: his evidence in eXa1ninati9n~iI1~::hi££"' has ~ . V_ _t<3'ta*a:fl§ unchaflenged.
Bssides this neg on I'€C{§I'{§. by the irxsursr $5: the abasve evidancfi: {Ef 1'-"'.Ws.£ to Hie considered t.z*iev.=' that fiifi Tribune} has figiitzgr kt§;;:1iea;:»::z%j%%'--:;%:e said eviaiexicti :1)!' P. W.*s.1 :0 3 *grz",§1:c_I1 "the fact that the said i€ZIi}{3~:Z} was "P,W;_Q :,Svi§{&ifqu€:, whe was daing business in fish at '--.__V.€I3liC1;.fi; flame and Stfflfi of "C.S.C<)mpaI13*" :-and that §.njm'6d'~ Baiju being the agent of P.W.2 and 3130 the lA};?ubal<kc:* Siddiqut: who was {:k:a12er~c:u;:u-Roads? in . tempo who were trave1l1'I1g in thé said image fer the fizifpcsfi of trangportlng the fish {mm Malpé ta Caiicut, which (___r\f'h-----._£-
E-"Efif€f ta bfi yurchaged at Maine. Tllis being 30, the Tribgnal wag quite justifiéd in fasténing {ha liability on tha iilsurer ts pay ccmpensaticsn awarded 4faV¢Jiif*" 'A "
said injured claimants.
?. Further, on careful 'Eh €*: QGflt§§}I1_i'$':._§}f"'§§x:I31, " V L' insurance 9011032", it czmld, be ' $§éV{:'~L'~.tf£a§ tigié' -.{M1$L;Lrer has coilacted unéer it fmm tild' of 125.230 /' ~ 2.23:
"WC ta emplcyrae others" aieng with other In viéw ef the
esmbfishsd *fa€t.i§:, zfifltibaigkez' the ciaimam: 31":
M.V.C.No.5§;'*?A/ the said tempo as C1€:¥3tI}€1"'- cum-loadér, ht; Catsgoty of (iI}3f}}{}}€a'3€ Hfidfii' _§§eu1§§iSafi.QI1 Act, 1923, and the injured ciaimaxit was travcilizig as an agent sf P.W.2 (3GI.Z1t§S '*-,i1:'1cieI* i*1i::& of the persczns B"a'€?6}}1{1g in the gfiozis . _"_;%3-:-*;;41"i;*lr;';.V1e aléizaéavith the goads inasmuch as hf: had hirezi the on behalf cf 11353 said principal (P.W.2} far 1"'a',2.'7,.é;.'L '1:;é'.$p 41i):°i',a*:'.io::t Of gocsds £42., fish, fmm. M3196 to Calicut and r"r*'A""
acztidczniz, thz:-: claimant has becanze virtuaily a £ivi;1g:_:'-siead having 1031; his aensaiien of bath tha lawer depend 0:1 GthfiI'S fer attendilzg his dajgtfi.d;a§;_--'é.%éti%5ii"ié"s; ".F11«%: "' Eitidfillce of P.W.4, D1".SI1a3;nsm1d3r B11é3::, 'The 131811113111: haci f:*e1é't3,1red "-disl0C9;{:i{3:1"'::=f E312 and. L1 V€I'tf2bI'3.€ with '":.w::a"1*apl&$2a.. THEE had posterizpr di5}9cat.ior1 of hip jeizjt-.a1f..thc 1'i;g;.":§; gsivzic 21130. 3"1 injury W35'};}1'3=3E'f"£.':I}1€)'€}1{Iii'%, "Ij'{€ had heel pad avolus. Injury 1 t¢v'V3'we_ré:» §;I'iev¢)us'»»i;1 natmt. He was admitted 0:1 thci_: 's~a;111¢ :1aj.%";~ '€'i~l:1..t¥1e same day claimant.' uinécrwjfirnt'¢ie:i.;;farit:n"_1t:1"1'i;;.<cif heal pad Wound, and é:1o$edVr€.dué;ién _éi.'._rigI1:€----:'ib joint. He was ':3-.ka},_r3tal _fi"ac:tion $0 the right lower-V..1iinh_f0r '6..i£?%%:c.£{S;V CR1 1? .1.2083, he 'Lmdczwdnt. _ szirgszrgr for this spins:
fracture _(1i.SIot:;=1.t,iCs1i2."O1"1.25.1.2003, ascaildary sutuxifzg of that Vh!§C1¥VQl .iE'}Ci.}7i?aS done." 1Q,._;jAO11pe1;t1s.a§ o11f tfie above evidence cf P.W.*-I», duster, éfihicfi' hés tatally uncilaflcngfié, it Couid 'as 366::
that treated as iilpatient for more than four fi3<mths, 'E':e b€':C£§I}Z1fi 108% disabled ':0 @3331}. anything .: --.'.§:¥c;2£§;e:réis*L}1uisViive1ih0<3d by dzzcing any job; 011 ms etlwr Emmi, ha fiiéfiend an Gtrxers througheut his fife for all his Iiiifidfi Afiiéfiliv' for atiending calls of {ha maturfi; the chaficas 0:' his jma1Tiag€ are aim compiataly Ylllfid out, As ta ma 3.Se'.§€SS113l'3I1€ ,....r~v-.~.....--~ Insurance Co.Ltd., Bangalore and cmothm' reported £11 ILR 2004 KAR 2471 abserved at para 16 cf thfi judg1n¢ff£'.as under: p ~ " The Courts and Tribunals, in bac1a3;;T% % cases, whiic asscssmg CDm})¢3IIS33I.i0I1,' .§1'1.Qu};i_ tat: V' intc account all relevant circ%.1II1':§ta1f1ca%:--§, 'C'€.?id€fI}.€;'£: lcgai principles govcrrzing qz:2a.tiIt_'_1ficati%;;v:'1"'v crf " Comperzsation. Ffilythcr, may have ti). approach issue: of awarding sompcnfiafiun on' ._t1'1t.'.=}ai"g;cr perspectives at' justices, _____é§<;;uiiy ms% conscience and sschmv .'t:€hpiCaiiti€s iii "the decision making. Them' s3ht}L1id; realization on thti' part 9f the Tribuz'1aT-15 _ f::l1at the p0sseSSi0I1 of tifxefisa owfi'b0(iy isfthc: f'3.'{?ST'.* and most valuable of = u that all pOSS€SSiO31.«8i§d ?i)$5:f.I16:f;S§f1i1.":. are La-:s.'tc:I1:5:i:"):1s of this primary '"whi1c» ijoinpensatign for bodily i13jIK1I'ii::.:3.§' '1?:§.:}cl1Ey_"i11j'Lzi'3-=-..i5_t{6 be {mated as a dcpx*iv;é1tiGnA "wi*;ich'ni.cj:r1titiz:=s a claimant to damages. The anicufit of d:i1:f13;agésT.§_Iéx'--.FieS according to gravity of i12ju.r§e':3, ' }Z2t:=f:$'ivat.idn sustained as a cezzsequafiéffi crf hfiC1ii}3':I1'_§1,2I'i€S 1313.3-' bring with it three: cor1sci;L1cr'1c:és, 'I1ame1y, {.11} 1055 Cf earning 2a.z1§i'~l%:a1fi1iiag c3.paCi_t3w?, (ii) €X1)CI1S€S to pay athers _ "for %.'vheif"ot1'xs;nvisc he woulé do for himself and (iii) '1:::$$--. .o2*._;iii_uf1viIiuti@n in full plzeasurcs and j<:'2ys csf '~§i1.ri1_1g," it is impossible {<3 equate muncy wiilii' suffering, ageny and pcrsonai _ dc§"I*iva§;i<}r:.,;' the Tribmlals and Ceuxts 31101116. ¢_ma}<:€ ~33; honéfit ané sfiriaus attempt 1:0 award kiamagcs 59 far as money can campcnsatm the "« 'i:3SSL'~«. Less 01" curing and earxzirxg should a:.dé:qi:atc1j; bc cmmpcnsatcd. Thcrcforc, whiic % " cgsnsidcring stlfiprivation, the Tribtmais and Courts ~ "'s'm)111d haw: due regard to thc gavity and dfigce c____§~\/~-----\/-
of <:icprivatie1:1 as Well as the degree cf aW3.I'f3I1€SS of deprivation. It is trim, £21 awarding dalnages personai injury cases, the cempensatisn awardcéd'-.4'_'T~.V_ by the Court: should be substantia}, it S§1G1IldWIiQf.'V"._"'». v be merely token damages." " ' ' At para :29 in the same judgment thehfiefxcil §:'1';23;S" " " observations of Fielfi, J. made in c:¢:':s<<::' South Western': Rauzusay ca., zk1a=;?4;<:-:~ iQ.B_£i¥'.:V 4§*f} t$...£¥«*1éic2'1 reacis thus: ' :
" Yen 831311101". put: ti:€--p1'ai1jitt§;;fi" b.21fck into his original positien, fpf:1t._yr3'_u fl1'1i,'.S}1:--.:_i:3II_":'i1g your rcamuable conffifiefl s€nSe'~fto_ bear, aflgiyeu 3113.5: always rszccall-:é<:t'}:f;h'a_t, this is t}'it:V'D f1}'ji...0CCaSi0I1 GI} which c0n1..per1$a£i-:i;3"¢a;I} "i::(:': §g1veé;I3.,_ » (The plaintiff} can ncvcr s_ui--f.__ fC§'I'. 'it3 'iota; have, thcrcforc, 110"? to. --.@1v¢":¢;:{;n1§;€:1_satieI1,_ wimce afid fer ail. He has d9né":1;;;;r w¥%Qng;"h;c has suffcmd a. wmng at the haifzds of £1515' -~:1ef£f;£.i_éi11ts' and you 131115;: take - Cam :0 five ' £1121 "compensation for that wixich he has sufib1:'&.'_.i§"..._ V. 13; aI3&;re.<3bS€¥va'a'0ns of this Court, saber High C:§i;rtS;:.Va7:1dTAt;.?;:e:'%SLi§:§r€:n1e Court: ané also {ha English Court, H1 de€éi*:§;ilcv1f1sV:'°&.i'é:;fi¥::V(Vi ta supra, aptly apply to the facts of the _ } '}f§V_I?{4i§£,E;I'l'£ cé.sr.-3; gfiaviilg regard to tha fact that the: claimant in 199/2005 if} M.F.f§.6457/Q4Wé1S fieated as V' V--'ii:1pé.1':iej'1?3.':: far more £11131} four mmzths and that he has IQ av--5--"""""
to the passing Sf mpumed judmmnt anti award. We gig} net find any teaser} :0 Suspect the genuimeness of th€tfS§Ev: "§Z¥iIiS. Having regard ta an these facts and €:iFC1ll11St81}{:f:Sri§f W6 hersbf; enhance the amount 01' RS';'3§,OO£ § E3; the Tribunai towards future Rs.1,00,G00/- and awgzd the: .tV"21i:0.iJ1f f;_f "':.:£:"c2ss~"' abjecter claimaluz. A' ' ' V A
15. P.W.4, dcctm', evidence that zthances cf marriage: 3. gir}. cemea forward 01113? maritai pleasure.
In 11171325 viejfif the ends {Ef justice vmuld ha of R$;2,0Q,()QO,f- is awarded in favauij ~91' _ fiiiés Vffiuavards kiss 0:" all the maniagz-:
'_h&:;éVb§%"§ward the mine in his femur. 'Ev':?i};€t.vv'$s;vé1.s3:§ .~'5f Rs.18,{)€)i}/-- awardéd by the Tzibunal "V£0;¥ards-44ce:1§i::yé;Ii€:e charges and fiflfiihfil' sum 3:' R$.10,08G/w H " ':':"%C¥§f'?3.Ed§ aitafidantg' expextisstis and Gthfil' irzcidentai chargeg fihe period sf trsatment and also the sum of
-1-,-£8, 10(3)' ~ 3_W8.I'€1€d under the héad expanses of }.7;;€di{:in€S ( Rs.11,:26,100/~ to Rs.1S,46,100/- with interest thereon Q}: 6% 13.3.". and pass the following sum-:22 Both these M.F.A.Nos.6E;7 and 668 filed by the insarer are herebyV'e'd§_.e~IniS'sed 't M.F.A.Cr0b.No.199/05 filed in M.F.A;'?i§.'667/O}?
me claimant in M.V.C.N0.407}'{}3 0n"'the':4fi¥eA..ef time ~ learned District Judge and U':1{1V1;ri, ':i'sv'f_E1g:=,freby? allowed in part with pr{}}3f}I'tiOI13.i;€--§§{Z¥$t'5y:"e._ffi;1(3V§§i;<§§.S- objector -- Claimant efititleii zeeeeivej from the appellant ---- ..:,ee'1:g:1pensati0z1 enhanced frorzx """ 100-] ' aeiLfa:*ded by the Tribunal to 1?:;*;.1f>;«?5v,"'i':f}j';@f/ -e iziterest on the enhanced eompextxeatienw. annunl. The 21ppei1ant»inS;_;rer, 'ie reepéfident in the cross- ebjeetien, Vr_1.ep0e'it" ~~~~ {:16 said axneunt of compensation four weeks from the date of :;:":i;fawir1g5" award.
e. mpizfized judgient and award in 5:.) far it jxfeiatee fie the depositing ef a,n10um: of _ V"»'€i0§11pe~:1§;1fio1i into fixed deposit account in the name 01" °c1,ég1im..a..f1t in any nationalised "bank of his choice is 111; Q _ u ' uiidisturbed.
,..§"---w./-