IN THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT Bll! MISC. APPEAL IC) N0, c\ 11 /2011 APPELLANT INSURER/RESPONDENT N0. 3 Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd., through it's Legal Manager, ICICI General Insurance Co. Ltd. Lal Ganga Shopping Complex, G.E. Road, Raipur, Chhattisgarh VERSUS ^ESPONDENTS CLAIMANT ^/y/^ .-^ /^ A V /^//' ^•J/.^ ^'ycy" ^y J,- Bhagwan Singh @ Bhagwat Chandrakar, son of Late Shri Baliram Chandrakar, aged about 36 years, resident of Village Aunri, Thana Ranchirai, Tehsil Patan, District Durg, Chhattisgarh 2,, Harpal Singh, son of Shri Chaman ''' Singh, aged about 27 years, resident of Sector 5, C.S. 04, Quarter No.19, R. Bhilai, Thana Bhilai Nagar, Tehsil and District Durg, Chhattisgarh (DRIVER) 3. Smt. Anima Saha, wife of Late Shri D.K. Saha, aged about 51 years, resident of 34/7 Nehru Nagar, West Bhilai Nagar, Tehsil and District Durg, Chhattisgarh (OWNER) MEIVIORANDUIVI OF APPEAL UNDER SECTION 173 OF THE IVIOTOR VEHICLESACT1988 ^'W'r^.^-T ^•^*-^fyiry- .?^.TP- iip^-^^'T_'E .A-T'-'w-Tff?;/''':^ TS^? d *?s n-¥¥A.CTt'ESTT^^ nlua* i^Uun.i Uf i^iTSn.ii.i iiBilA&KJri &* r--v^ •St.a? » ^-~lt •i.^Bt ^^£"S< ^*a.'~t ^'t.^Tt'e •e i^aJ&.i^l S^^» 3?OX ^?£E ^&^E±X .^.J^r^-L.-L^iE^ !l / ^^^US^^S^.f iUU Loiuuaiu rnsurance Co. L.td. Uciicral ^.y r^s^H<-^v fu; rsiiagwai Chajidrakar aud others. ^r'^^^l. UiTiljl^^. ^^^s.'s.^s'^s.'/^ %Jsf' "i'sls^ s'/i^'i^S^. ¥^a,i^/L?i^& 5it? s?iirx ^o^i. vuaciusi <is Hon'bie S&ri G. Miahajuddia, JJ.I ^r^^^^si. i &un niumxj u^-s c& iyis. i&iiusiiice LJS.S, counsei IQ: ttie aopellao.t. v3il±it.J^-LC^JL!^l.^Cl 'sJT LL ^J Li-i-, None for ottier resBOiidents. iisd xor i'*c.s'ponc.criT iv 0,^1 (Passed on 08tsl dav of'Sovess.bas, 20111 B.s- •*"h^.- ^3 ;3i==^;^ •s' ,^1» ^'V.^a.^SI., sJ^ n Scu'u. t?u ^. rs., - -i- ^~i- . _ —— -1T-. .„ appiicai.ioii^ we are sausiiea uiat uie appeiiauL uas succeeuea 111 expia^iiug uie cause 01 aeiay in lixLug uie appeai. . inereioi'e, cippiiG'a.'Lion (i.A. i^o, ±jis ax&owea H-i-iCL LU.C ueisy ^•auseu 111 luuig cippea- is u&ieoy couaoii&a Witb. tlie coii&ent of Ifianied coun.sel &r tb.e pa^ties, ihe tt. i iiis s^ppeai ^icis DC^-P-. IUGU. uy aie appeiiaj-i.t/iiisui"cLi.E.ce ^/U-U.pctLiA' a.gcLLLlK'L 'illC iiilpLLgilCa fciV"ai'LL LLc^'iea ^;^-v ^-^tj'j. i pcis&ea f'1.^.': ,-:~t t'^.^?<?r- ^Tf'~s ''7/^ / QP; ^ O }^^j t1-;i-- \r^~SJ-"~^ .it ._. .„ ; .t ^. -._ ^ /-•.-; ^. • ,_- ^. /-"._;-£_..„.. „ •; /-r^, rr\ /^-. \ r~'.^- -- ^. J'-c_ -. - -i- . ..-- f^'i- .. . /^.^ .- ' --- _- ACCiU.dlL ^..IfcULu.K . I'iUU.Ua^ [F . 1 . i^.J, IJtU.'^ ;IOI &1101'L 'UlC ^.•ia-ixis •T^.-••;-., ..--.-i^ -.7-^."9's.---—:„ ^. -1--.. "s'---•!--:T'^-- ^^ i ^.iUU.licU. (^ ClicLUKll^lil^. LL1.C ^J.ciUlU-tV LU ^•Qj-LLUeUSc..LLOIl 'UJ Uj ..LH rr ! :'-flt :• o. LilfcU-11 cil A<~-;^if1t:'i^^ •^- ^ -•"> -•' "t- - ^ _ * ueiii i^sponaeiiis INO.^; o& o iici 'w&ie (^ ctnyer; awii&r a-iici tue appeiia.&t was iLLSLu^r 01 tlie oEeiiu.io.g --^.^- '' ..••.- ftT~ -..^-.- i" - r>^ ,.-.".. -l- --..'' ,,^. ... — - -.' ^^---.^.— : _ ^ 'aT _. j^ <—i .-t'~? •a<r.?—^o-- /^b^ veiucie [i'ktiSi isaiaj^ Dc&nng rcgisu'ax-ioii no. L/.U-. :j/-M/o<5<SD. \j£i 07-12-2003, tli& claiiiiaiit Bhag'wRU Singli allas Bha^w^t was goiiig on -ais niOt&rc^'Cie aioug: wiui iiis Drotuer-iii-iaw iroiii Chandulal Chandrsisaj; Kospltel, Bij.llai to S.A.F. 3attalu3ii, ouu^i. Aic iiia.i uoie, uie oiieiiO.iug veiiicie: (1 &ta. ^ajar^ Deanug reglstrsiiDii No. C.G. 07-M/3385^ whlch was beio-g drlv&u by tue No.2 liereiii, iii a. ra.sb. aj.id. iiegtl^B.t iiiajiiicr, d uic cia±Di5iii€oua.gwsui oj-D.gn ctus.s rsiia.gwax, a.s a. resuii 01 'wiiicii hc sustslu.cd vajious giievous iujuiies ou lils body' Siiid lils liiijiuitycic wa.& aiyo LiajXLc^ea, nc was? cKiaiiLicu 111 ^/i-iciiiauiai Cjj.aiidisik&T Hosoltal fbr tTc:£djii€:iitwherc lic rciXLaio.ed. fTOiii 7-12- A+ -'i-,^ _-t -.-,-i. .-. -t respoiideut No.2 liereiii, iii a. ra.sb. aj.id. iiegtl^B.t iiiajiiicr, da.sued Loie of fciCcMent,. the fe| ^± i.±l', AL U1C cla.iiu&ut w&s 35 years anci was ear.uing Ks. 10,UOO/ - per iiioiitu. by woFiLing a.s tcactor u.nver. Oii SCCOLUIT. ol liie ssxl acc-u.en.L, tu.e ciaiciaui Decaiiie peixLLaneiiuy aisaoiea aiia was uci. aDic E^J ao uis wox^. i UG repor;: 01 uie iiiciaerLiL wa.s g^vei.i iu uic r'Gi-Lcc ^-Lauoii. Supela, Dlstrict Durg aud aii ofibnce was registei'-ed uncier ^ecuous '2.1 y, ^v^ / siici ooo 01 Uj-c i . j", 'u. ag£LLiiSL iioii- appiicaui/respoiiaeiiL ^c.^.. Tlie cl&iiiicUit iLaii fu^d. & clcdiii p&titiou uiid.er Ssctioii 166 of tlie Motor Veliicles Act, 1988 (for sliort uie ACL) clairaiLtg & lutal sjiiouni 01 coiiipeixsa.Liou- 01 KS.JI,O^,UULF/- 101 uie iLyLLLies suyifetiiica uj uiro. 111 u.ie a^ciuciiL. i.e£Li:nea i_^£iim,s 'iTiDuuai 011 a ciose scniuay 01 uie evidence ledj isiat&rial. plsced. aiid SLi1jiiLlssK)ns iua^lc by the -p&Tues^ iias awaruea an aiiiQuiii 01 r<s.o^o;uuu/- 10 uie ciaimajii aioug wiui ui'Lere&sL (^; o'yo p&r eu.iiiaia IIUIJLX uie UCLL& L?I cicLLO.t peuuou uii TDr: paynicui is ni&u.t ^r" S. We ^b.ave he&iu leanied couusel fbr tue partics aiid pcrused Uj.e lecorct 01 uie ^ia.Lu&s 'iTiDLuiai as aiso uir uxLpugncu- SiWcirct. On. perasal of the iccord it is evKient tiia.t tlic iscora -LL is evKisiiL 'aiai uic t^iK'inci iVicuicsi r>oaju uan giveii uic ccruiica.'iS. 01 ^yyo pcniiajiciii dlsabillty' ofthe iojuieci/ cla.lm&ut anu lurther It 1s in.eiitioiicd that T „ ^~- - oi uie saiue. nowever, ii is uox xuciwn up 10 wjxax exteni ui ^ cl^lmaiit/ injured got uie penixsiiieiit di&a.billty and diie to that wlietliSi' uiere 1s loss of fiuicuoxxal disa.bliity, resultlD.g iii loss of e.&i'iiiiig ca.pa.cr^y a-iici up 10 wiiax ex'csiiL. Pcmxaneut dlsa.uillty lias beeii deuned iii Sectioii 142 wliich 142. Pei^iiaiieii.t Dlsal^iluy.- Fur the ptirposes of this Chapter., periii&iieiit dls&blilty of a persou siiall be dc&iiied to lia.vc: resulteu. iiunx ajx accldciit of tlie nature refbired to io. sub-sectioii {1? of Section. 140 if sucli persQii lia-s SLLueied bv rea.soii of the accideiit. axiy iojuxy or lOjuries irLVOiviug;- \s-f penasiLisui pnvsiuuii 01 uic -sigiii 01 eiiiid' sye: or uie iie&niig 01 eiuier ear, or pnvauou 01 aiiv BieinDer or.[Oiri.i; or fb) desLTucu.on or periuan&iit iiiipaiilD.g of the powers 01 £LDJ'iiieiiioer or jouit; or {^ -i ' „jt" ^.__ ._ ^.^-' .„. „. .».j£*^l- - •S-.^ ^ ^ ^ „ ^*. -CllL 'CilSUS-tU.'"£lU.OU Ul Ul& lie&U oi-' i£tcc. pcijiiaueiiL aisugtirau-ou 01 uj.e iieaa or lace/ E-xpl.siia.tloii to suo s&cuou (1) ot Secuon 163 A oftb-e Mctor VetucleS Act expr&ss tiiat JAJF tuc uurpose ol uiat sub-sectioii, &s ^T ?--.. -.-.^-..-.-, .-. — /"*. - —.-— - —. --, --^ :.-.---. ^ .- -l. -t ir\r~~.i^ T _^ n ^ ^, „ -_ .^ vyuij&i-ufu ^-un.ip&i^.yeiuuji f\<j.t^ iy.^o. I£L s?ecouci Ct.-.l.-- .-. -I -^'?.-. ---.?' c^.- .-.-i-'.--,-. -;/---•> A -,.^. .„.-! „_._ ._, ._. r- A1- - --3- ^. -. -•^^' _ _ ^ .C ^^jiica u.i£: ui oc^ uuj.1 -o^-ri ai. ^•i.a.uac o, 'Lo.e u.esciipi.ioii 01 disabilitv IG. iioii-fetal accideiits lias ueeii ^iveii &iid s^jer sulj- cl&use (b), it iis.s beeix i.o.entioD.^u. Ui&t lujunes' cieenieci to ix'su.lt lii Peritiaiieiit Total Disableiiient/Pemisiiient Pai'tisLl Disaulem.eiit aiid perceiitage of loss of eamiLLg capaclly shall be &s per Scliedu}£:-i uiide^ Workm.eii s Conipeixsa.uou Act; 1923 . i^. lii ui£ c3.se 01 ^"'Feirs^ -?¥€ir@^^ Sei^^fes. sMs^. csst^tHet^ repoi'zcd iu. A^ I^T'^ SC ^^^ foLU: Judges of Hon ole Apex Court lisvc lield ILI parEtgra.pli 5 uius as uiider; i>. 1 iie expresslou totai d.lss.bieLo.eut li&s bc-eii deflued iii Sectloii 2(1)(1) ofthe Act as fcilows;- fl) "totaLal dlsableiixeut^ aieaiis sucli dls&bleaieiit, wliettie-r pt & teiupoiajy or permaiieirt natu.re, as * iiica.paciia.ies worKiu&a. IOF &u WOFK wmcu iie wa.s c^pable of perSjr.aiio.^ at th& tmie of fhe accident ^ resultiug 10. sucli ciisa.bieiLieiit." It lias iiot t)eeii disputed toefore us ui&t tue ii.ijuiy was c?f such a. uature &s to cause peruiaiieiit disableio.eiit to Llie responaeni aiia iiie cftiesuon 101 coB.siaei&uon is the disabie£iieut liica.pacltated t3ie respoudeiit for all woric wliicli Iie was capfcible of peiioiin.Iiig at the tkue of the &ccldeiit. ITie id L;oiainiss±ouer uas exaniiucu uie quesuou &n recoru.ed. liis fuidiiig s.s &'Ilows:- Tiis iHjured workinan 10. tiiis case is Ccapeiiter by orofesslori..,. ,.,By loss of tlie left liaiid a.bove uie eluow^ lie lias evlde.ritl3/- bcen reiiclerecl LUitlt Ibr tiie WOI'K 01 c&rpciiLer ds uif worK 01 carpeMU"}" CSLQ.IIOI DC aoiie oy ijiit; iiaiia cuiiv. This is obvlouslv a reasonable &nd correct fkidlug. Couiisel fer fh' ppeuaiii nas iioi ueeu. aoie 8-SS&11 ii oii aj.i'v' ^rouiia SJKI II aoes noi require 10 Dle correci^a IB. uiis appeal. There is also 110 Justiflca.tioii fbr the ouier ar^uiLLeiit wiiicii has beeu advanced wiui refereuce to iieiii o 01 r''&r'T li 01 ocueauie i, Decause IT was 1101 uie aijpell^o.ts case belore tiic C'OID.IUISsioiisr Uisit aiiipuiauou 01 uie anu. was iroiii o" jroBi iip ox aci'oaiioii to less tiiatu. 4^2 below tte tip ol Qiecisiion. A iiew ca-se c'fciiirioi uideiure ue aiio^^ea 10 ue sei up ou Z&CTS wiiicii nave B-OL Deen aaiiuTiea or li-i t3jc ease of SnSt^rS,g'i€!S Cs?a 1/t^a S?S» J^£^££S-il= .'^.Ti^WTt ^ e-?<~i.j?" ^iJS.r's. <.•(..,-,. T_S .-. ^.n-.t,-. €s^M& es.s't'sfCts.s^ r'f.ponecL •jji ^w s ^ '^ sa^-^- f^a-£-'.^' uic r^u'ii uit; /ipex t^/oui"i uas ueia 111 para o as- Uiiaei. 'LOSS 01 ey.TQjiig ^&paciLv is, xusreiore, uoi a substlttite for percentage ol tae: pliysical .dls&bleBieiit. It is ouc of tli€ iztc1x)rs taleerL iuuj accoujii. in uie insraui c&se uxe aocior wiio xuncuoD.ai Q.issLDidu.eiii. 111 ouier woiu.s, ui^ aocior liad taiseii iiote of tlie relevaiit f&ctor-s rela.tLiiR to loss 02 eax'nuig c£ipaciTA'. WIUIOUT inaicauiig &iiy r'easoii or ba.sis tlic Hlgli Coui't iielcl tlia.t uiere was 100Q/o loss of eai'''niii.g ca.pa.clty. Siiice no basis was iijs.aica'iecL iu suppon 01 'aie coiiciusiou, saaie caiuiOT be iiialu.talned. Tliereforej we set asicle that p£u't of the riigh Court s order a-iid restore that of il~ie ^.uiuiili.Kyjj'jilCr, 111 view ui u-lctt i<^L;t situa/iioii. v/oixililg to tlie Questlon of lisibillty to u&v io-terest, Sectijon ^. A //'i'. .-I „ „ -i -. —^*^--?^ ^_-!^ _ '4-^(0^ a.eaj.s wiin uiai quesLioii. 'i'ue provision jias beeii QLioted above. 14. Tlierefore; periuaj.ieiit disabillty has uirect link w'itii the iLiiic'LujMai capaciiy 01 uie iiijuj^-o.. 111 uie iB.s?aiiT c&se^ uic Tribui3.al lia-s jj.ot a^sessed ths fuiictk>ual discdjIUty of tut: lujuTeu. on uie DS.SIS 01 uie ptiiysicai. ciiS£i&uiiy, ID. sucu circiiisi&Tfcu.ic&s, •uie Tiiouiial should have coiiducted proper eiiquii'y &s laid down in. Rule 226 oftb-e C.G. Motor Veliicles Rules^ 1954 aa.d SectLOiis 168 ofthe Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. 13. It has beeii provided iii Rule 226 ofthe C.G. Motor Vehlctes r^--1 - -. -a i~i/-^ /{ ^-l. ^ ^ AI- - t^-i _:.---. /T-.-'^ ^_ -_ ^ 1 _.^_ „ -S-S -I^A _ : .. — fl_ „-„_„„. ._ I\ LllCK, 1 '=?^ ^t- LUfel L 'aie ^iai^iiH i nu tiiiaj. KII£UI oolaiii y7iia.iever liifomi&iUon sjid docunieiits wlilcli iiiav be fouiid B.ecessai'v froixi tlie poilce, iiiedical aiiu oth.er &.utliorlties aiicl proceed. to awai'd. uxe ciaiiii wiieTiier uie paTu.es wno wer'e giveii iiouce^. Kppeai" 01" D.0t, ou tiie appoiQ.ted. date, rui'uier we caiiiiot i^iiore tiie proyisioiis of Sectlon 163 of tlie Motor Vetucles Act, 1988 whlcli provides that on recelpt of an appUcatioii for cG£apeiisati.onm.a.d.e a/s i.oo^ Lue ^iaiiiLS iriQ'aiiai snaii aiLer giviiig uie parues (iacludli'xg uie lusui'eij aii oppOitunity of beiag heai'xi, hold aii 'euquM'y iiito tlie ^cla Im &Q.d subject to tiie provisi.oj.ls of Sectioii -LQ-R th.e aniouiit ot conipcnssiuoii wiiicii a.ppeaj"'s 10 Tribuii^I has not couducted siiy enauliy iu uie laaiuier iLidlcated ja s _^, - sy^ -, ^,^. decided on 18til October, 2010 and reported in i¥ (3010| Acciaettt & Conlpeasatioa Cases S15 jSC) Hou"ulc llic Apcx \^o~o.n. lai.a ciowii vicic pfcu'a. 11 &s 's-uiu.er: ~J ^ y ^•"-11 •</;' ^-i I m-!-.-. /T^,,:-i-.--, ^..^.l -l-.---1-1i „ .-.^. 1-. - -. -.:^ ^ „ ^. i i, 'iiie. ' i T1D Ull&L SilOUitl I10T Dc a. sil&nt spectatoi' wlieii uaedical evldence is teiiderecl ID. regai'xl to tlie io.juries aiid LEieir effect, lii -I:--.-{- •11 paiTicuiar uie exLeni 01 peruiaiieiit uisaDiiitv. SectiOi.is 163 a-iid 169 of tb.e Act iiiake 11 evijd.eiit th.at tlie Triuuiial does uot fuiictLOii as a iieutrai. uBipire as ui a civii sult, but as an actlve explorer and seelcer of u'utli who is r^Quli'ed to T.iold aii euQuii'^' iiito tlie claim.? for determluing tlie just coiupcxisatioii. The Trlbunal sliould therefore t&k& aji actlve role LO feisccnaui Lu.e u~ae axia coneci posiuon so uia-i ii caii a-ssess uie "jusi conipe.iiss.uoxi'. wliile u.ealiiig with. persoiial uijuiy c&ses, tlie TriOLUiaI should piefera.oly eaulp itselfwith a Meciicsi Dictioiiai.'Y aiid a. Haiidbook fui' evfeUtiatLon 01 uci'iiianeiii pii^^sicai iEiipalr'iB.eiit (for exaaiple the Maiiual fbr' E/VfcU.U.dU.OI1 j-'emiaiieiii r£iv&iC'£ii inipSiiim-eu.t lor uruiopeaic yurgeoiis, b-v- ABienc&ii Acadeiii.y of Oitiiopedic Surgeoiis or its Iijidiaii equiv&lent or otlier autliorized texts) for uiiderstajidiug tlie m.edical eviuencc aiid assessing the pliyslcal and tajicuonal dis&bility. The Trioujj.al iiiay also keep ia view tlie fli'st schedule to uie Woiknieris CojXLpeusatloii Act.,~'iy.^3 wlilcli gives soio.e iu.d.icatlon about LU'G exteut ol pcmiaiieiit dlscibllity iu. difiei'&iit types of iiijuiies, in u.ie case ofworlcmen. If •f" a Doctor givlng evidence u&es techriical llLCU-lCcU. tCI'lilK, LLie ll'lUUllfeU. SllOUlCt. lilsu'UCI n.iHi 10 siaie IEI aciaiuon, 10. sirapie non- Biedical term.Sj tlie uatui'e and tlie e^ect of j£i€iiijuiy. ii a aociur gives eviaence aDoui the per'ceiit&ge ot perio.aiieiit disabillly; uie Trio uiial b.a.s to seek clfu'iflca.tiOii a.y to whetlier sucu. percen'Lage of disabILlty 1s tlie r\. tl reierence TO a uuio. 11 ui& perceniage 01 penuaiieuL aisaoui^ is siaiea wiui reierezice ~io a IUB.U, uie inDuuai wiu. iiave 10 seeK uie doctor s oplolon as to Wi^ither it 1s possible LO aeauce uie correspoiiaiag luncuoii&i peno.aj.ieiii aisa-oiLuy wmi reiereiice 10 uie wnoie oocTy a-o.a n so uie oerceuras&.' 17. lii view ol tlie above, we are ot tlie opiuloii tliat 1110 lo.atter r&qtilpss recoiisMeratk)ii at tb.e eiid of the Tnbuiial, TIieiefbie, we ailovv tliis appeai xn p&r't, set asiue tiie iuipugneci awar'ci aiicl reiiiii DS.CK uie iiia.u.er 10 uie ^iaiins inDuiiaj. 101" ciecisioii siresii 18, Needless to Bieiitiou tliat tiie paities shall oe provided opport'u.FLit^7 to &iueiiu tiie picQ.cl.iiigs, s.ciciuce luruiei" evicisB.ee., iile doc.uiXi-eiits or get Uie ciocuzxieuts vei'Jfleu etc,., on tiie b&sis ot uie pie&o.iiigs ajrea.ay ou recora. 19. TIie partles shall appear be&re the Claicj.s Tribuual on •d ^a -t s^, t^^^ -i -t i.^-X-6-^Jt^ia .'-i.i^. — i_ _ „ -._i _^~ ^.-)_ _ /~--s _:...„ .rr^..:-)--- .__ i „.-).„ -i-a -a- - -.„ .-^. ^_ _ ^-a^ ^*. ..ji.'s-—:^.^.- 'z\j. KecoB:i 01 TII€ k^iajiiis j.no'LUiai suau oe SCHT uacK joiTxTwiui Sd/- I.M.Quddusi Judge Sd/- G.Minhajuddin Judge