FAO No.5594 of 2010 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH FAO No.5594 of 2010 (O&M) Date of decision: 13.9.2011 Gopal ...Appellant(s) Versus Lakhi Ram and others ...Respondent(s) CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JITENDRA CHAUHAN Present: Mr.Ram Pal Verma, Advocate for the appellant. Mr.Rajbir Singh, Advocate, for respondent Nos. 1 and 2. Mr.Amandhir, Advocate for Mr.Smiriti Dhir, Advocate, for respondent No.3. -.- JITENDRA CHAUHAN, J. 1. The sole argument raised by the learned counsel for the appellant is that the multiplier of 12 applied by the learned Tribunal is against the law laid down by Hon'ble the Supreme Court rendered in Smt. Sarla Verma and others Vs. Delhi Transport Corporation and another, 2009(3) RCR (Civil) 77. 2. From the perusal of the impugned award, it is made out that the deceased was of 20 years at the time of accident. The Tribunal applied the multiplier of 12 on the ground that the claimant being young man, therefore, he was likely to perform second marriage. FAO No.5594 of 2010 2 3. Learned counsel for the appellant has stated that till date, the claimant has not contracted second marriage. 4. There is no dispute regarding the age of the deceased. As per post-mortem report, Exhibit P4, the deceased was of 20 years. Keeping in view the age of deceased, the learned Tribunal ought to have applied the multiplier of 18 as held by Hon'ble the Supreme Court in Sarla Verma's case. While dealing with such type of matters, the Court is expected to address to the pleadings and should refrain from introducing any subjectivity. 5. In the fact situation, I feel that multiplier applied by the learned Tribunal is on the lower side and deserves to be enhanced. Accordingly, in view of the law laid down by Hon'ble the Supreme Court in Sarla Verma's case (supra), the multiplier of 12 is enhanced to 18. After applying the enhanced multiplier i.e. 18, the compensation comes to `2,16,000/- (12000 x 18). The learned Tribunal awarded the compensation of `1,44,000/-. The enhanced compensation comes to `71,600/- (`2,16,000- `1,44,000/-), which is rounded of `72,000/-. The same shall be paid within 45 days from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. If the enhanced payment is not paid within the stipulated period, the same shall carry interest @7.5 percent from the filing of the present appeal till it is paid. . 6. In view of the above, the present appeal is partly allowed and the impugned award is modified to the extent indicated above. 13.09.2011 (JITENDRA CHAUHAN) mks JUDGE