Case: Sheela Hirba Naik Gaunekar Another Vs. Apollo Hospitals Ltd. &amp; Another

2. Since the facts in both the appeals are identical, for the sake of convenience we refer to the facts in the appeal filed by the complainant, being Civil Appeal No.3625 of 2005.3. The complainant is the wife of theGaunekar, who underwent angioplasty treatment in the Apollo Hospitals Ltd., Chennai. Angioplasty procedure was conducted on 14.05.1996. The deceased died shortly thereafter of a heart attack on 18.05.1996. Thepreferred a claim petition before the Commission alleging that the death of her husband was on account of the medical negligence on the part of the hospital and its doctors and due to deficiency of service. Thus, she is entitled to compensation for a sum of Rs. 70 lakhs. The Commission heard theand the respondent Hospital, recorded evidence adduced by both the parties and examined the correctness of the claim made by theThe Commission also examined RW.Mathews Samuel Kalarickal, the doctor who performed the surgery.4. The Commission being a fact finding authority, examined the evidence and relevant records and came to the conclusion that there was negligence on the part of theThe correctness of these findings has been questioned by theHospitals in the connected appeal filed by it, urging that the said findings are not based on proper evaluation of evidence on record. It is further contended that the death of the deceased had been caused due to heart failure and therefore, the finding recorded by the Commission that death had occurred as a result of medical negligence is an erroneous finding. It further contended that the finding recorded by the Commission in awarding amount of Rs. 2 lakhs along with interest at the rate of 6% per annum as compensation, is also not legally correct based on any substantial evidence.5. The complainant has also challenged the quantum of compensation awarded by the Commission and has sought enhancement of compensation. It is contended that the Commission recorded a finding of fact on the question of medical negligence on the basis of the evidence of RW.Mathews in hisby the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the complainant. It is contended that the fact of negligence in takingcare of the deceased after the angioplasty has been proved by the evidence on record and after assigning valid reasons. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of thecontends that after recording such a finding, the Commission erred in awarding just Rs. 2 lakhs as the amount of compensation on account of death of the deceased.

Court's reasoning:
The Commission awarded compensation of Rs. 2 lakhs along with interest at the rate of 6% per annum. The income tax declaration filed by the deceased to the Income Tax department during the financial year in the which death had occurred is on record as evidence on behalf of the complainant in justification of her claim. According to the Income Tax return, the annual income of the deceased was Rs. 5 lakhs per annum. Deductingamount of that towards the personal expenditure of the deceased comes to Rs. 3,33,000/(approximately). As on the date of the death, the deceased was aged 60 years. In terms of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the decision of this Court in the case of Sarla Verma (Smt.) and Others v. Delhi Transport Corporation and Another, 2009(3) R.C.R.(Civil) 77 : 2009(3) Recent Apex Judgments (R.A.J.) 373 : (2009) 6 SCC 121 , the appropriate multiplier in the instant case is 9. Thus, the annual loss of dependency comes to Rs. 29,70,000/Having regard to the fact that the incident in the instant case occurred in the year 1996 and the litigation has been going on for nearly twenty years, it would serve the ends of justice to award Rs. 40 lakhs as compensation. Having further regard to suffering of the complainant on account of mental agony, loss of head of the family, loss of consortium and loss of love and affection, we deem it fit to award a further consolidated sum of Rs. 10 lakhs under the abovementioned heads, in accordance with the principles laid down by this Court in the case of Balram Prasad v. Kunal Saha and Others, 2013(4) R.C.R.(Civil) 946 : 2013(6) Recent Apex Judgments (R.A.J.) 165 : (2014) 1 SCC 384.  Thus, in the interest of justice, we deem it fit to award a total amount of Rs. 50 lakhs as compensation in toto.8. Accordingly, the compensation awarded by the Commission is modified as aforementioned. Further, interst has to be awarded at 9% per annum, instead of 6% per annum, from the date of the institution of the complaint till the date of payment, applying the principle laid down by this Court in the case of Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi v. Uphaar Tragedy Victims Association and Others, 2012(3) R.C.R.(Civil) 203 : 2012(3) Recent Apex Judgments (R.A.J.) 92 : (2011) 14 SCC 481.