Case: New India Assurance Company Limited Vs. Rajni Harshwardhan Sharma & Others

Revati Mohite Dere, J.1. Rule. Rule returnable forthwith with the consent of the parties. Vide order dated 8th June, 2015, it was noted that the Appeal deserves to be disposed of finally at the stage of admission. Accordingly, the matter was taken up for final disposal.2. The appellant - Insurance Company has challenged the Judgment and Award dated 22nd November, 2013, passed by the Member, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Mumbai, by which compensation of Rs.37,67,000/- was granted to the respondent - claimants, alongwith interest @ of 7.5% per annum from the date of the claim application till realisation of the entire award. Although the respondent - claimants have not filed any cross objection/appeal, they have filed an affidavit praying therein, that the interest awarded be enhanced from 7.5% p.a. to 9% p.a., from the date of the application by taking recourse to Order 41, Rule 33 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908. At the outset, it may be noted that the award passed by the Tribunal has been challenged only on two counts, viz., (i) the quantum of compensation awarded and (ii) that the interest awarded was excessive.3. Before we deal with the two issues raised by the learned counsel for the appellant, it will be necessary to set out the factual matrix out of which the issues arise.4. On 18th August, 2004, at about 9.15 a.m., when the deceased -Harshwardhan Sharma, was traveling in an auto rickshaw bearing no.GJ-16-T-1623, near Rohini Nagar, Bharuch, one truck bearing no.GJ-16-V-3766 dashed into the said auto rickshaw. The truck is stated to have come from the opposite side in a fast speed and in a rash and negligent manner. As a result of the severe impact, the deceased sustained serious injuries and ultimately succumbed to the same.5. Harshwardhan Sharmas wife, son and mother preferred a claim petition under section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (hereinafter referred to as the said Act) claiming compensation of Rs.60 lacs. The appellant - Insurance Company sought leave to defend under section 170 of the said Act and contested the claim as the owner of the offending vehicle despite service, failed and neglected to appear and defend the claim. The accident nor the insurance coverage has been disputed. The claimants examined two witnesses ; i.e. first respondent - claimant and Mr.Manoj Bhanushankar Trivedi, the employer of the deceased. The documents which were tendered below Exhibit - 12 were true copies of the passport (for date of birth), Income Certificate, HSC Certificate, Degree Certificate (Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering) and other documents like police papers etc. No oral or documentary evidence was led by the appellant.6. The Tribunal, after considering the material on record i.e. oral and documentary held that the offending truck was being driven in a rash and negligent manner, resulting in the accident in which the deceased sustained injuries and succumbed to the same. The said finding on negligence has not been challenged by the appellant and hence is not required to be dealt with.7. On the point of compensation, the Tribunal accepted the salary of the deceased as Rs.35,000/- per month and after granting 15% increase towards future prospects and after making the required deductions by applying the dependency formula, came to a conclusion that the monthly income of the deceased was Rs.26,833/- per month, (Rs.26,833 X 12 = Rs.3,22,000/-). Considering the age of the deceased i.e. 51 years it applied the multiplicand of 11 and after granting compensation for loss of consortium, loss of love and funeral expenses, awarded compensation of Rs.37,67,000/- along with interest @ 7.5% per annum.8. The respondent - claimants, in particular, the first respondent -claimant in support of the Claim Petition filed her evidence on affidavit (Exhibit - 13). She has stated that her husband at the time of the incident, was 51 years old. She has placed on record, the certified copies of the deceaseds HSC Certificate, Degree Certificate of IIT, Madras, passport and salary certificate. She has produced certified copies of the FIR, Panchanama, Inquest Panchanama, P.M.Report etc., which came to be exhibited. She further stated that at the time of the accident her deceased - husband was working as a Manager - Electrical/ Instrumentation with Tricon International, Andheri (E), Mumbai and that he was earning a salary of Rs.35,000/- per month. She relied on the salary certificate/slip. She has further stated that her deceased - husband would contribute Rs.25,000/- per month towards household expenses and maintenance of her family which consisted of herself, her young son - second respondent and her widowed mother-inlaw - third respondent. She has further stated that they were the only legal heirs of the deceased and as such all of them were totally dependent on him ; that her husband was in good health at the time of his death and due to his sudden death they had lost the sole bread earner and were suffering great financial hardships and mental agony ; and that they had no other source of income.9. As noted earlier, as the owner of the offending vehicle failed to appear despite service, the appellant - company sought leave to defend under Section 170 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which was granted. Accordingly, the appellant cross examined the witnesses. As far as the cross examination of the first respondent - claimant is concerned, the only cross examination with respect to the challenge in the present petition is as under ;"My husband had gone to Bharuch for official work. I have filed income tax returns of my husband. The company has not given any compensation".10. The suggestions made by the appellant that the contents of para no.7 and 8 of the claim affidavit filed by the first respondent, with respect to the degree and salary of her husband ; that she had filed a false claim; and that her husband was not getting a salary of Rs.35,000/- per month were denied by the first respondent - claimant. These were the only questions put to the first respondent in the cross-examination vis-a-vis the challenge in this appeal.11. The respondent - claimants also examined Mr.Manoj B. Trivedi, the proprietor of Tricon International, where the deceased was working at the relevant time. The said witness has stated ; that he is the proprietor of Tricon International since 1987 ; that the deceased was employed in his company for about three years ; and that the deceased was working as the Manager - Electrical/Instrumentation with Tricon International, Andheri (E), Mumbai. He has further stated that the monthly salary of the deceased was Rs.35,000/-. The said witness has accepted that the letter at Exhibit -19 is issued by him and that its contents were correct and that the same bears his signature. It may also be noted here, that the letter dated 1st July, 2004 issued by the said witness certifies that the deceased was drawing a salary of Rs.35,000/- per month. It also certified that the deceased was found to be hardworking and sincere in his work. The said witness has also deposed that the deceased was an Electrical Engineer from IIT. In his cross examination, the said witness has stated that the payments were made by cheques and that there was a statutory deduction of professional tax and TDS at the end of the year. The said witness has denied the suggestion that the deceased was not drawing a salary of Rs.35,000/- per month.12. The Tribunal, after considering the evidence on record held the owner of the offending truck and the appellant - insurance company as being jointly and severally liable to pay compensation. The Tribunal, accordingly directed the Insurance Company and the owner of the offending vehicle to jointly and severally pay an amount of Rs.37,67,000/-along with an interest of Rs.7.5% p.a. from the date of the application till the realization of the entire amount to the respondent - claimants. The apportionment under which the compensation was to be distributed was ; 60% amount was to be paid to the first respondent - claimant (out of which 50% was to be paid by A/c payee cheque and 50% was to be deposited in any Nationalized bank in her name under a Fixed Deposit Scheme for 3 years) ; the balance 40% was to be distributed between the second and third respondents equally i.e. 20% each respectively by A/c payee cheque.13. We have gone through the evidence on record and all the documents with the assistance of the learned counsel for the appellant and the respondents. As noted earlier, the learned counsel for the appellant has challenged the Award, only on the quantum of compensation awarded and the interest granted thereon.14. It is not in dispute that the accident in question took place on 18th August, 2004, when the deceased - Harshwardhan Sharma was traveling in an auto rickshaw and the offending truck bearing registration no.GJ-16-V-3766 which was driven in a rash and negligent manner dashed into the said auto rickshaw. It is also not in dispute that as a result of the severe impact caused by the offending vehicle, the deceased sustained serious injuries, as a result of which he succumbed to the same. It is also not in dispute that the respondent - claimants are the only claimants in the Claim Petition; the first respondent being the wife ; the second respondent being the minor son and the third respondent being the widowed mother of the deceased. It also appears from the evidence on record and is not seriously disputed that the deceased was the sole bread earner of the family and that the family had no other source of income. It is also not in dispute that at the relevant time the deceased was aged 51 years.15. As regards the compensation awarded, the learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the Tribunal grossly erred in concluding that the monthly salary of the deceased was Rs.35,000/- per month. He submitted that the Tribunal had failed to deduct the Income Tax and Professional Tax thereon, from the said amount. He thus submitted that after deducting the Income Tax and the Professional Tax, the salary would come to less than Rs.35,000/- per month. According to the learned counsel for the appellant - Insurance Company, no document was placed on record to show the said deductions.16. It appears from the evidence on record and the documents produced in support thereof, that the deceased was a highly qualified person having passed his HSC (CBSC) from Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, (Higher Secondary School), Lodhi Estate, New Delhi with First Division. It also appears that he had obtained distinction in Mathematics as is evident from the HSC Certificate. It also appears that the deceased had completed his Electrical Engineering (Power) from IIT - Madras, with a First Class. Both the said certificates and qualifications are not seriously disputed by the appellant - company. Thus, it can be safely concluded that the deceased was a highly qualified person. The deceased, at the relevant time was working as a Manager with Tricon International and as is evident from the Salary Certificate was drawing a salary of Rs.35,000/- per month. The evidence of Mohan Trivedi, the proprietor of Tricon International reflects that the TDS and Professional Tax was deducted at the end of the financial year. Therefore, the question that arises for consideration before us, is whether the evidence of Mohan Trivedi, the employer of the deceased is sufficient to prove the income of the deceased in the absence of any document produced on record in support thereof. As observed earlier, the deceased was highly qualified and was holding a degree in Engineering of a reputed institution like IIT. Therefore, the income of such a highly qualified person in August 2004 can be reasonably taken as Rs.35,000/-. Hence, it can be held that the respondent - claimants have discharged the burden of proving that the deceased was drawing a salary of Rs.35,000/- per month. However the question is whether the Income Tax and Professional Tax were deducted at source, as stated.17. It may be noted that the Apex Court in the case of Vimal Kanwar and Others v/s Kishore Dan and Others, (2013) 7 SCC 476 , was required to deal with a similar situation. While deciding the issue as to whether the income tax is liable to be deducted for determination of compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, the Apex Court in paras 22 and 23 observed as under:-"22. The third issue is "whether the income tax is liable to be deducted for determination of compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act.""23. In Sarla Verma this Court held :"20. Generally the actual income of the deceased less income tax should be the starting point for calculating the compensation.""This Court further observed that : (SCC p.134, para.24)"24. ..Where the annual income is in taxable range, the word actual salary should be read as actual salary less tax.""Therefore, it is clear that if the annual income comes within the taxable range, income tax is required to be deducted for determination of the actual salary. But while deducting income tax from salary, it is necessary to notice the nature of the income of the victim. If the victim is receiving income chargeable under the head "salaries" one should keep in mind that under Section 192 (1) of the Income tax Act, 1961 any person responsible for paying any income chargeable under the head "salaries" shall at the time of payment, deduct income tax on estimated income of the employee from "salaries" for that financial year. Such deduction is commonly known as tax deducted at source ("TDS", for short). When the employer fails in default to deduct the TDS from employees salary, as it is his duty to deduct the TDS, then the penalty for non-deduction of TDS is prescribed under Section 201(1A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Therefore, in case the income of the victim is only from "salary", the presumption would be that the employer under Section 192 (1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 has deducted the tax at source from the employees salary. In case if an objection is raised by any party, the objector is required to prove by producing evidence such as LPC to suggest that the employer failed to deduct the TDS from the salary of the employee. However, there can be cases where the victim is not a salaried person i.e. his income is from sources other than salary, and the annual income falls within taxable range, in such cases, if any objection as to deduction of tax is made by a party then the claimant is required to prove that the victim has already paid income tax and no further tax has to be deducted from the income."18. Keeping in mind the aforesaid principle, the evidence and the salary certificate in the present case, show that the deceased was drawing a salary of Rs.35,000/- per month. Manoj Trivedi, Proprietor of Tricon International in his cross examination has categorically stated that "the payments are made by cheques. The statutory deduction of professional tax and TDS is deducted at the end of the year". There is no further cross on this statement. There is no suggestion that the said statement is false nor is there any suggestion that no records have been produced by him to substantiate the said statement. Infact, in the absence of any suggestion challenging the veracity of the said statement, there was no occasion for the respondent - claimants to bring on record the documents to prove the same. Thus, the statement of the employer Manoj Trivedi, that the statutory deduction of professional tax and TDS were deducted at the end of the year", has gone unchallenged. There is nothing on record to disbelieve the said statement, which has come in the cross-examination itself. It thus appears that the income of the deceased from salary was Rs.35,000/- per month. In light of the evidence of Manoj Trivedi that the TDS and Professional Tax were deducted at the end of the year and keeping in mind the ratio laid down in Vimal Kanwars case by the Apex Court, we do not find any merit in the submission of the learned counsel for the appellant, that the Tribunal has erred in not deducting the TDS and the Professional Tax, whilst quantifying the compensation. Even assuming that deduction of Income Tax ought to have been made from Rs.35,000/-for the purpose of calculating multiplicand, we must note here that the Tribunal has granted only 15% increase on account of further prospects of increase in earnings. Considering the fact that the deceased was a graduate from IIT, the said increase ought to have been more than 15%. Hence, taking overall view of the case, the Tribunal rightly held that the income of the deceased was Rs.35,000/- per month.19. The law regarding award of compensation in applications under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act in fatal accident cases is well settled. The Apex Court in the case of Sarla Verma (Smt) and Others v/s Delhi Transport Corporation and Another, (2009) 6 SCC 121. has laid down the formula for Tribunals to calculate the compensation. It has also held that in cases of salaried persons additions have to be made depending upon the age of the deceased to the actual income of the deceased while computing future prospects. In Rajesh and Others v/s Rajbir Singh and Others, (2013) 9 SCC 54 , the Apex Court held that the formula set out in Sarla Vermas case, would also apply to cases, where the deceased was either self employed or on fixed wages, while computing future prospects.20. The Tribunal has rightly applied the said formula in arriving at the compensation. It has awarded 15% towards future prospects and after making the necessary deductions and applying the appropriate multiplicand; concluded that the respondent - claimants are entitled to compensation. The Tribunal has also rightly awarded compensation to the first and second respondents for loss of consortium and loss of love respectively and funeral expenses. We do not find any error or infirmity in the compensation awarded.21. The second submission of the learned counsel for the appellant is that the interest of 7.5% per annum which was granted on the said compensation was on the higher side and that the interest ought not to have exceeded 6% per annum, considering the interest rates prevalent now. The respondent - claimants although have not filed any cross appeal/cross objection, have filed an affidavit of the first respondent - claimant praying for dismissal of the appeal. The first respondent has stated in the affidavit that they are not in a position to file a cross appeal/objection, the same because of the huge debts and hardships that they have had to suffer. The respondents have prayed that this Court can by taking recourse to Order 41, Rule 33 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 enhance the interest component, by directing the appellant to pay interest @ 9% p.a. from the date of the application, as the rate of the domestic term deposits at the time of the Award was 9% p.a. The first respondent has enclosed to her affidavit, a copy of the Circular issued by the Oriental Bank of Commerce in support of the same.22. We have perused the judgments of the Apex Court in this regard. The Apex Court in the case of Kaushnuma Begum (Smt) and Others v/s New India Assurance Company Limited and Others, (2001) 2 SCC 9 , noticed that the nationalised banks are granting interest @9% on fixed deposits for one year and held as follows :-"24. Now, we have to fix up the rate of interest. Section 171 of the MV Act empowers the Tribunal to direct that "in addition to the amount of compensation simple interest shall also be paid at such rate and from such date not earlier than the date of making the claim as may be specified in this behalf". Earlier, 12% was found to be the reasonable rate of simple interest. With a change in economy and the policy of Reserve Bank of India the interest rate has been lowered. The nationalised banks are now granting interest at the rate of 9% on fixed deposits for one year. We, therefore, direct that the compensation amount fixed hereinbefore shall bear interest at the rate of 9% per annum from the date of the claim made by the appellants. The amount of Rs.50,000 paid by the Insurance Company under Section 140 shall be deducted from the principal amount as on the date of its payment, and interest would be recalculated on the balance amount of the principal sum from such date."23. The Apex Court in Abati Bezbaruah v. Deputy Director General, Geological Survey of India & Another, (2003) 3 SCC 148 , noticed the varying rate of interest being awarded by the Tribunals, High Courts and Apex Court itself. In the said case, the Apex Court held that the rate of interest must be just and reasonable depending on the facts and circumstances of the case and should be decided after taking into consideration the relevant factors like inflation, change in economy, policy being adopted by the Reserve Bank of India from time to time, how long the case is pending, loss of enjoyment of life etc.24. In Supe Dei (Smt) and Others v. National Insurance Company Limited & Another, (2009) 4 SCC 513 , the Apex Court held that the proper interest would be 9% per annum.

Decision:
1[ds]18. Keeping in mind the aforesaid principle, the evidence and the salary certificate in the present case, show that the deceased was drawing a salary of Rs.35,000/per month. Manoj Trivedi, Proprietor of Tricon International in his cross examination has categorically stated that "the payments are made by cheques. The statutory deduction of professional tax and TDS is deducted at the end of the year". There is no further cross on this statement. There is no suggestion that the said statement is false nor is there any suggestion that no records have been produced by him to substantiate the said statement. Infact, in the absence of any suggestion challenging the veracity of the said statement, there was no occasion for the respondentclaimants to bring on record the documents to prove the same. Thus, the statement of the employer Manoj Trivedi, that the statutory deduction of professional tax and TDS were deducted at the end of the year", has gone unchallenged. There is nothing on record to disbelieve the said statement, which has come in theitself. It thus appears that the income of the deceased from salary was Rs.35,000/per month. In light of the evidence of Manoj Trivedi that the TDS and Professional Tax were deducted at the end of the year and keeping in mind the ratio laid down in Vimal Kanwars case by the Apex Court, we do not find any merit in the submission of the learned counsel for the appellant, that the Tribunal has erred in not deducting the TDS and the Professional Tax, whilst quantifying the compensation. Even assuming that deduction of Income Tax ought to have been made fromthe purpose of calculating multiplicand, we must note here that the Tribunal has granted only 15% increase on account of further prospects of increase in earnings. Considering the fact that the deceased was a graduate from IIT, the said increase ought to have been more than 15%. Hence, taking overall view of the case, the Tribunal rightly held that the income of the deceased was Rs.35,000/per month.19. The law regarding award of compensation in applications under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act in fatal accident cases is well settled. The Apex Court in the case of Sarla Verma (Smt) and Others v/s Delhi Transport Corporation and Another, (2009) 6 SCC 121.   has laid down the formula for Tribunals to calculate the compensation. It has also held that in cases of salaried persons additions have to be made depending upon the age of the deceased to the actual income of the deceased while computing future prospects. In Rajesh and Others v/s Rajbir Singh and Others, (2013) 9 SCC 54  , the Apex Court held that the formula set out in Sarla Vermas case, would also apply to cases, where the deceased was either self employed or on fixed wages, while computing future prospects.20. The Tribunal has rightly applied the said formula in arriving at the compensation. It has awarded 15% towards future prospects and after making the necessary deductions and applying the appropriate multiplicand; concluded that the respondentclaimants are entitled to compensation. The Tribunal has also rightly awarded compensation to the first and second respondents for loss of consortium and loss of love respectively and funeral expenses. We do not find any error or infirmity in the compensation awarded.The Apex Court in Abati Bezbaruah v. Deputy Director General, Geological Survey of IndiaAnother, (2003) 3 SCC 148  , noticed the varying rate of interest being awarded by the Tribunals, High Courts and Apex Court itself. In the said case, the Apex Court held that the rate of interest must be just and reasonable depending on the facts and circumstances of the case and should be decided after taking into consideration the relevant factors like inflation, change in economy, policy being adopted by the Reserve Bank of India from time to time, how long the case is pending, loss of enjoyment of life etc.24. In Supe Dei (Smt) and Others v. National Insurance Company LimitedAnother, (2009) 4 SCC 513  , the Apex Court held that the proper interest would be 9% per annum.