FAO No.646 of 1989 -1- IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH FAO No.646 of 1989 Date of Decision. 07.01.2011 Smt. Harmeet Kaur widow of Harbhajan Singh and others ......Appellants Versus The State of Haryana through Secretary Transport, Civil Sectt., Punjab, Chandigarh and others ......Respondents Present: None for the appellant. Mr. H.S. Gill, Sr. DAG, Punjab for respondent Nos.1, 2 and 4. None for respondent No.3. CORAM:HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. KANNAN 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not ? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? -.- K. KANNAN J.(ORAL) 1. The appeal is for enhancement of compensation for death of a driver in Punjab Roadways. The deceased was 40 years of age and the claimants were the widow and three minor children and an aged parent. At the trial, the evidence was that he was earning Rs.1440/- per month and the Tribunal while determining the compensation provided for a contribution to the family at Rs.890/- and applied a multiplier of 16 to hold the compensation payable at Rs.1,82,000/-. I will reappraise the compensation in the light of decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Sarla Verma Vs. DTC 2009(6) SCC 121 and hold that the deceased was a driver in a Government Department and had sure prospect of increase in salary. I will take a 30% increase on his salary and hold the average FAO No.646 of 1989 -2- income to be Rs.1872/-. Having regard to the fact that he was supporting a large family of 5 persons, I will make a deduction of 1/4th for personal expenses and take the contribution to the family at Rs.1404/-. I will adopt a multiplier of 15 as applicable to the age of the deceased and hold the loss of dependence at Rs.2,52,720/-. I will add Rs.5,000/- towards loss of consortium to the wife and Rs.2500/- to each one of the children for loss of love and affection. I will make a further addition of Rs.2500/- towards the loss to estate and Rs.2,000/- for funeral expenses and hold the total amount of compensation payable at Rs.2,69,720/-. The amount in excess over what has been awarded by the Tribunal shall bear interest @6% from the date of the petition till the date of payment. The additional amount of compensation determined shall be distributed equally between the widow and the children only. The liability shall be as determined by the tribunal already. 2. The appeal is allowed to he above extent. (K. KANNAN) JUDGE January 07, 2011 Pankaj*