The High Court · 2025

1. N. Anitha, W/o. Late Narendra, Aged about 40 years, Cc ;. Household, 2. N. Saipranay, S/o. Late Narendra, Aged about 24 yearc. Occ Student, 3. N. Srinidhar, S/o. Late Narendra, Aged about 22 .ears, Occ Student, (Declared major as per orders in l.A.No.eg3 of 2021, (lt( j.12ZOZ|)

4. N Lakshmamma (Since Died) 5. N Guruvaiah (Since Died) Their LR's Petrs. No.1, 2 ?ld ? (petitioners No.1 to 3 I re brought on record As per memo order, dt.14.09.202 j) All are R/o. Ravindra Nagar, H.No.3-5-17lC, Station Road, Kachlguda, Hyderabad. Nalgonda Town and t)i ;trict, presenfly R/o. _ PETITIONERS AND 1 2 K. Shailaja,_ W/o. K. Venugopal, tv'lajor, Business, E /o. Flat No.21 Sai Annapurna Residency, Sharada Nagar, Ramanthapur, I Vde.abad -500013. (Owner of Volkswagen Car bearing No.TS0gFL-4994 The National lnsurance Company Limited. Reotd. bv rt, D.No.5-8-568. 1'r floor, Jubilee ' Buildinq. Na?noafl,l Hyderabad Policy No 55170j311t110050442 vatid t 30.07.2018 Regional Manager, ation Road, Abids, om 31.07.2017 to = 3 S Naresh S/o.- S. Narsaiah, Aged about 27 years, Dri,,r r Rio.2_12-59, SBH Colony, Uppal, Medchal - 500039. (Driver of the Volkswagen Car bearing No.TS08FL-4€ f 4) RESPONDENTS Counsel for the Sole Appellant in MACMA Sgl2O23 and Respondent No.2 in MACMA 19412021 : SRl. S AGt,l TYA SHARMA Counsel for the Respondents 1 to 3 in MACMA 5gt2123 and Petitioners 1 to 3 in MACMA 194t2023 :SRt p RAM,I (R|SHNA REDDY Counsel for the Respondent No.6 in MACMA igt2123 and Respondent No.1 in MACMA 194t2023 :SRt RAVtNt ER BOLTSHETTY Counsel for the Respondent No.7 in MACMA 5gt2}23 and Respondent No.3 in MACMA 194t2023 : None apprr red The Court made the following: COMMON JUDGMENT THE HONOURAIiLE SNTT. JTTSTICE RENI.JKA YARA M.A.C.M.A.Nos.59 and 194 ttf 202-1 COMMON.IUDCMIiNT: I{eard Sri Agasth5,a Shalnra, learned counsel fbr thc' appcllant in MACMA No.59 ol lOli artd t'cspondent No,l in MAC'MA No.l9:l of 1023, Sri P. Ramakrishna Reddy, lcarned cottnsel lbr thc appellants in MACMA No. 194 ol'2021 and respondcnt Nos. I to 3 in MA('MA No.59 of

202.1 and Sli B. Ravinclcr'. lcarncd couttsel lirt' respondettt No.(r irt MACMA No.59 ol- l0li ancl rcspondent No. I in NL\CMA No. l94 of1023. Perused the entirc rccord. l. l-'or the sakc o1- convcrticttce, the parties alc rcl'll'rcd as the1" werc arraycd in the claim petition --1. Thc MACIvIA No.59 ot'102.1 is tilcd tri' rcsponclcrrt No.2/lnsurance Company and MACMA No. 194 ol 20li is Illed bv thc clairnants. ag-uricved b1, thc auard passcd bl thc Chairmarr. \4trtol Accidcllt Clairns I'ribuna[-cum-XI Additional ('hiclJudge. City' Ciril ('ottrts. I{1'derabad, in M.V.O.P.No.3099 of 20 1 7. dated 0 t.07.2022. I hc- Ilrsttratrce corlpany is cltrestioning the quantutl ol'cotrrpctrsation ttu'ardccl u'ltcrcits thc claiuiants ate seeking enhancernent o l' cot.n pcnsation -) '1. i. a 'l'he clai, pctition was iiled on accornt of deatlr r f one N. Narerdra tratllc accident utich occurrcd .n 07. I I l0 l7 r r I0_40 anr.. ri.hc. '.ed thc clecerscci as pillion ride'ard his fiicntl Vi.iavcnclcr I( rcldl.as r.idcr.*crc goins tr) rhc Iielcts of Vilayender Reddy on rnotorcyclr rcaring No.-l S 0-i t:t. 9:178 Whc-n rhev reached Sakshi paper ollice thc outskirrs ol r\ r'ia lr bur i Acldanki-Narketpally road, Nalgonda. ()ll( Volksrl,aqcr.r cir I l)earirr.q \o.'l S ()li lL r9()1 d'iven i, hiuh speetr in .r sh rr.d .c-urigcrrt rl),.,e. lionr \a.ketpailv dashed the rn.t.rc_r,cre carrsi'r : th[ .t'both thc ridcrs. [)uc to inrPact of the accidenl, lhc dcceasecl Na-, ndra cliccl on thc sp.t. rc b.d' *as t'lo*,n -50 ,bct rionr thc pracc .f ac,: .rent. r'he P.ricc. Naisorrcla llLu-al. Nalgonda Dislrict regislcred - ftnte no.l86 ol l0 l7 urrdcr Sectious 104 and 137 of IpC. took up inrc-. i!,ati on and Il Icrl chu.gc slrr'et. o, acc.unt ol Lhe dcatrr o1'N. Narencrra. th1 c.13i111 petition A CASC II t\ lllcci sce k ine co nr 1'rep531j6;1 ol' Rs.4_5.00.000i - I'lrc clarnrants got exantincd pWs I to 3 and _qot rr rrked l__xs.A I .l hc lnsunrrrr:c C'ompanv did not cxarnirre ant u,itr.rc r but got nralkecl t<t r\ I I . l:r.[] l,'( t,p_r ot' Irrsurancc. policv only. Upon erarninino hc evidencc on recorcl. thc .l'ribunal auuarded compensation of Rs.l9,0i.()( )/- rr.ith in telcst at 90% per annum Aggrieved by' the said arvard, both the Insurance Ciompany and clairnants have prel'erred appcals (t. The Insurance Cornpany in MACIVA No.-i9 ol- 1013 challengcd the quautuln ol' cotnpeusatiotl a*'ardccl dcscribing tlie sarllc as huge conrpcnsatiou. Furlher, liabitity IS irlso qucstioued alleging that [roth rider and pillion rider rvere not \ .eaflnq helnre'ts at relcvant tinre. It is pleaded tlrat in casc, tl-rc lidcrs r'vcre n'cat'it.tq hclrttets' the accidcnt coLtltl ltavc bc-en ar''oided. As pcl Section 129 ot- lVl.V.Act, contributor)' lrcgligcrrce fbr violation of larv ought to havc been considered. tn additiorr. it is pleadcd tlrat ari'arding cotnpensatioti ol Rs.19.01.000r- is not.iustilicd.

1. 'lhc clairnants in MACMA No. I94 of 102-l plc-aclcd that salary ccr.titicate uralked under ux.A6 is tlot cotrsidercd and thcre lir|c. the lesscr conlpensation is arvardcd. Fufther'. it is the case of claimants that age olthe dcccased is taken on the higher siclc and niultiplier is on tltc loricr sidc. Fr-rtur.e pr.ospccts is also taken on thc lcsser side and lcss cottll-rctlsation IS anarded. The spousal consoftium is tln the lcsser side and lrlial consotliutn i:; trot arvarded. Funher, lesser cortrltensation is ar.varded torrards Ittneral l experlscs and l()ss of cstate. As such. pleaded that thi cornpensation be c-nhancccl

8. Irirsl. coDrirx.:. to thc casc ol-thc Insur-ance Cornp:rrl . th.'cor-rnter'llled b1, 1;.,"n', in clairrr l)clition docs r.rot contair.r any plcadi r ts abot-tt thc rider and pilliorr riclcr not u'earing helnrct in violation Scction 129 ol- N{.\'.,Act. Rorrtirrc clt'tcnses such as violation of Section lil't (6)and l3.l (c) of N'I.\'.i\ct ar-c trrken. Irurther. defi:rrscs available uncl.r Scctions l,l9 arrd 175 o1'M.V.Act ulc soLrsht. Routincly, dliving license ' rlution is allcgcd 'l hcrc- is rro plelrrling atrout thc clcccascd and rider ol t lc nlotorc]'cle not *earins hc lrlct t violation ol' provisions of M.\. \ct. I:r-rrther. the lnsurancc ( onrllurn cJicl not cxantine any u,itness in strpp of tltc del'enses '11 takcn in thcir c()r.rltcl'. In the abscncc ol- olal evidencc. I re cle li:nscs taken b1' tlte lrtsurarrcc ( onrpanv in the countcr cannot be,, nsitlcred. Br. not eranrininu an_r rritnt'ss. practicalll the lnsurance ( rrpanv conceded liabilitl t() pa\ c()r))l)cnsetion. As such. at this appeal s isc. nc\\/ dcf-enses cattnttt bc allorrcd to bc raised. Hencc. MACMA No.5() r r'1013 is liable to hc disnrissctl )

9. Coming to the case of claimants fbr enhancement o[ compensation, thc clairnants aIe alleging l.hat the deceascd rvas gcl.ting a suln ol Rs.20.000/- per month as driver of transporl vehicle rvith Rs.400/- pel day as batha. [n addition, it is also deposed tha[ tlic deccased rvas r.r,orking as a barber- on weekends and had income of Rs. 10,000/- per month and thus, had total l{s.i5,000/- per month income. The Tribunal considcrcd the inconre of the deceased at Rs.20,000/- pcr uronth on thc basis of oral evidcr.rcc ol' PWs I and 3. The evidence ol PW3 about pa1-mcnt ol Rs.10.000/- per morrth as per Ex.A6 is takcn into consideration. The onll' glier ance is not considering batha and the incorre as a bat'bcr. Irr that rcgard. rvhen the record is perused, it is scen that the avocation ol the deceased is shor,vn to be that of a drivel as pel Ex.A I courplaint gir en by rvit'c olthc deceased. l'he age of the deccascd is also sho\\n to be,10 l'cars. Likeu'isc, the charge sheet also shows that the deceased r.vas a driver Melely' bccause a person belongs to the community of barbcrs, it docs uot ruecessarilv entail that they are engaged in the ii'olk of plot-ession as a barber'. The- Tribunal has taken the incotne ol the deceased at Rs.20,000/- per rnonth ttrr t[-re ycar 2017 and the same is liberal. By no stretch of imagination. the incomc of a driver at Rs.10.000i- per ntonth in the -r'ear 6 2017 canbe consiclered to be less' I)uring arguments' it is :onceded that thc rnultiplicr aticl pet-sot',zil cxllellscs are properly cousiderc< by tlie Tl'ihunal he r-e lilre- this (lorrrt does not see an) ason to intert'crc are appropriate. with thc said rrotional incotne takcn b1' the Triburrr I and arvarding -l Rs.37.80.000/- to*ards loss oldeperrdency' .l.lrcTribLrnallllrsarrardec]Rs-16,500/.eachtoul,clslossol.estatc t0 ancl tirncral e\PCllses. FiLtlhet', all amount of Rs''10 (00/- toq,ards fl lial corrsoltiutri atrd lts'i0.000/- to"vards I rss of love and afl'ection. Floricrer. iti r ie ri oi-.itrclsmcnt of National I sLlrancc Co Ltd' Vs. Pranay Sethi antl othcrsr, thc said firldings arc et aside ancl b1' IS au,ardecl enhanciug (a) l0% in c\erv three years, the clail'l rnts are granted Rs. l8.l50i- each to\\'xl'ds titnctal e rpe uscs and loss ol ( jtate Frrr.tlter' the clain'rant No.l is clltitlcd Rs.lti.-i00/- to\\'ards spousl consortiutn ettld clainiant Nos.l and I arc cntitlcd l{s.97,000/- (Rs.48,: 00/- r2) towalds parcntal cor.rscirt iu r.n. As on the date ol deatli ol dect,l sed. the claillant Nos.4 aucl 5 are dcpencleilts o11 hirn and hence, tl t y are cnlitled to Rs.97.000/- (l{s.4u.500i- r 11 toriards lllial consor-tiur. lu addition. the clainrants ar.c -grantecl Rs.20.000/- torvarcls transport cl i rges 't'hus, in all, I(20i7) l6 S(1 680 1--) 1 thc total contpcnsation pal,able to thc clairrant Nos. I to I rvould be I{s..10.78.800/- ll. In thc rcsult, the MACMA No.59 of 20li tlled bt rhe lnsur.ancc ('ompanv is disnrisscd and MA('MA No.l94 of 202-.1 liled bt'rhe claiurants IS partl-\ allo\yed enhancing the compensation arnount a"valded by thc I'ribunal tioril Rs.i9.03.000/- to Rs.40,78.800/-, which shalI carrv intcresr at 9-{, p,1. ()u thc cnhanccd arnount fiorr the date of pctirion till the datc of rcalization. rc lcspondents shall deposit the arnount within a pc.r'iod ol'(8) uceks fhrnr th.-. clate ol reccipt ol copy of .judgrnent. On such deposit. thc clainriut Nos. I to -l arc errtitlc-d to withdlarv the cntilc at'n()ultt ilt plrPortiorr to their shares asardcd by the Tribunal, without firrnishine the secut'ity. d/. M.JAWAHAR REDDY SISTANT REGISTRAR //TRUE COPY// SECTION OFFICER To C',rif Court. Hvderabad. (With Records if any)

1. The l/otor Accident Claim Tribunal -Cum- Xl Additional' Chief Judge' City 2 o;; ca t"'shi s ncesivA SHARMA, Advocate toP.qql ^. 3 il; ca io sni CnntranKRlsHNA REDDY, AdvocatefoPUCl ; o;; aa io Sni nnvtuoeR BollsHErrY' Advocate [oPUC] 5. Two CD CoPies Y+ HIGH COURT RY,J DATED:1010912025 JUDGMENT MACMA.Nos.S9 AND 194 of 2023 ,t'lft, i,o ll :) \r i,'!.',., \)r \.1 I DISMISSING THE MACMA 59 OF 2023 AND pAP+\ ALLOWING THE MACMA 194 OF 2023 op(o1> fta;-' ffr. i) j .'j r( ttI \, .C ...\'// t. - *;r' .;. ;-.:;.,gy,\j../. ' .^-'-:-:-:- '' IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY, THE TENTH DAY OF SEPTEil/BER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SMT JUSTICE RENUKA YARA M.A.C.M.A.NOs: 59 AND 194 OF 2023 MOTOR ACCIDENT CIVIL MISCELLANEOUS APPEAL NO: 59 OF 2023 Between: The National lnsurance Company Ltd., rep. By its Regional Manager, Door No. 5- 8 -568, 1" Floor, Jubilee Buildings, Nampally Station Road, Abids, Hyderabad. (Policy No. 55170'131 171O0O042, valid from 311O712017 lo 3O1O712018) AND ..'APPELLANTJTJ L'ArRA ', t[.] I $: "i l?c Vc"Y^aht l\r A(i\.r{A t.(\ 1} }

1. N. Anitha, W/o Late Narendra. age about 40 Years 2. N.Saipranay, S/o. Late Narendra Aged about 40 years 3. N. Sridhar, S/o. Late Narendra Aged about 17 yearc, Student, (Declared Major as per orders in lA No 883 of 2021 Daled 111212021)

4. N. Lakshamamma (Died), W/o Guruvaiah, Aged about 65 years, Household, 5. N Guruvaiah, (Died), S/o Late Narasaiah, Aged about 73 years, Occ. Nil, (Petitioners No. 1 to 3 are brought on record as per memo order, dated 14t09t2021) (All are R/o. Ravindra Nagar, Nalgonda Town and District, Presently Ryo. H. No. 3-5-17lC, Station Road, Kachiguda, Hyderabad claim Petitionersl to 5) ( ?-\\cia'\,) +.' 1.r- 5"11r,,3. pc.L-*k,,'r;.' 5 rl. ,.;,) t;,r,..1;.; ,.-!!tl

6. K. Saialja, Wo K. VenuGopal, Major, Business, R/o. Flat No. 21, Sai Annapurna Residency, Ramanthpur, Hyderabad-500 013, (Owner of Volkswagan Car Bearing No. TS 0.8 FL 4994) (Respondent No-1) z S Naresh, s/o S Narasiah, ii;'ri;l,Y.r'ilrl]Ji',#,"ri),] llY&, .un Colony, Uppal, Medchal,-500 039 (Driver of Volkswagan Car Bearing No. TS 08 FL 4994) (Respondent *o-? n,, st\ r.r,- -,r.\ir-_, ,- * _ :,, ,:i.:rc f\\i5 ...RESPONDENTS MOTOR ACCIDENT CIVIL MI SCELLANEOUS APPEAL NO: '( 4 OF 2023 Between:

1. N Anitha, W/o. Late Narendra, Aged about 40 years, Occ Household, 2. N Saipranay, S/o. Late Narendra, Aged about 24 yea s. ( rcc. Student, 3. N Srinidhar, S/o. Late Narendra, Aged about 22 / arc, Occ. Student, (Declared major as per orders in 1.A.No.883 of 2021, dl.O .12.2021)

4. N Lakshmamma (Since Died) 5. N Guruvaiah (Since Died) Their LR's Petrs. No.1, 2 and 3. (Petitioners No.1 to 3 r e brought on record As per memo order, dt.14.09.2021) All are R/o. Ravindra Nagar, Nalgonda Town and Di: trict, Presently R/o. H No.3-5-17lC, Station Road, Kachiguda, Hyderabad .,.PETITIONERS AND

1. K Shailaja, Wo. K. Venugopal, Major, Business, i o. Flat No.2.t, Sai Annapurna Residency, Sharada Nagar, Ramanthapur, t yderabad - 500013. (Owner of Volkswagen Car bearing No.TSO8FL-4994)

2. The National lnsurance Company Limited, Reptd. by tr Regional fi,4anager, D.No.5-8-568, 1't floor, Jubilee Building, Nampally : atio; Road, Abi'ds: Hyderabad Policy No 55170131171OOO0442 Valid I om 31 .Ot.2O1t to 30.07.2018 '

3. S. Naresh, S/o. S. Narsaiah, Aged about 27 yea$, Drrr, r, Rlo.2-17-59, SBH Colony, Uppal, lvledchal - 500039_ (Driver of the Volkswagen Car bearing No.TS08F t .4994) ...RESPONDENTS Appeal filed under Section 173 of Motor Vehicles A( against order and Decree made in lvl.V.O.P.No. 3099 of 2017 dated 011O7123 t2, amended dated 2110112023 on the file of the Court of the Motor Accident Clzri n Trrbunal -Cum- Xl Additional, Chief Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad. This appeal coming on for hearing and upon perr,: appeal, the judgment and Decree of the Lower Court and t I the case and upon hearing the argument of SRl. S AGASTYa for the Sole Appellant in IVACMA 59 oI 2023 and Respondert 19412023 and SRI P RAMAKRISHNA REDDY, Advocate for the 3 in |\4AC[/A 59 of 2023 and Petitioners No.1 to 3 in MACMA I RAVINDER BOLISHETTY, Advocate for the Rer;1 MACtt/A.No.59/2O23 and Respondent No.1 in MACMA . I ng the grounds of ) material papers in SHAR[/A, Advocate \o.2 in MACMA.No. Respondent No.1 to o.19412023 and SRI ondenl No.6 in 412023 and None dlt.tw t", Pt'r't'rr c" '1 A{toc4c appeareqfor lhe Respondent No.7 in lvlACMA 59 of 2023 and Resporldent No.3 in MACMA 194 of 2O23. This Cou( doth Order and Decree as follows:

1. That the Motor Accident Civil lvliscellaneous Appeal M.A C.tvl.A.No.59 of 2023 be and is hereby dismissed.

2. That the Motor Accident Civil lvliscellaneous Appeal Ir4.A.C.lvl.A. No. 194 of 2023 be and is hereby,allowed by enhancing the compensation amount from B,'\'J Rs.39,03,000 to Rs.40,78,8001;

3. That the enhanced compensation amount shall carry interest at 9% p.a. from the date of petition till the date of realization;

4. That the respondents shall deposit the amount within a period of (8) weeks from the date of receipt of copy of Judgment; 6 That save as aforesaid, the decree of the Tribunal shall stands confirmed in all other respects; and I[. That there shall be no order as to costs in this appeal. 5 -rh.t cn zl.th depo6?1 ,+^e ct irwe\ltr F;o f+o3 tr. .,.\i \rc.,by .^re ,11ti1ler.t, 1r *,1]:J"' t\, t fr\r rht 1/'i!4\l 1u: n.lf;ve aj{cr.rnf {"r ptcpotXcn t ]f'e?r '4'w", e'l 3uarvr v'{ i'. ,-\.i $av! -+1"" &c1: ..'-9ly Sd/. M.JAWAHAR REDDY TANT REGISTRAR AS //TRUE COPY// CTION OFFICER To

1. The Motor Accident Claim Tribunal -Cum- Xl Additional, Chief Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad.

2. Two CD Copies ('\ HIGH COURT RY,J DATED:1010912025 COMMON DECREE MACMA.Nos.S9 AND 194 of 2023 DISMISSING THE MACMA 59 OF 2023 AND Pil'-'*\ ALLOWING THE MACMA 194 OF 2023 )) ti' t." \'l ,- dI"t'--