Minor Thanuja vs Vasanthi - Court Judgment

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 28.11.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE Mrs.JUSTICE R.KALAIMATHI Minor Thanuja (Minor Appellant represented by her Brother and Guardian Muhammed Shafi) ... Appellant vs. 1.Vasanthi 2.The Branch Manager, M/s.National Insurance Co. Ltd., Venkatesapuram, Bank of India Upstairs, Perambalur. 3.Abdul Basheer 4.The Branch Manager, M/s.National Insurance Co. Ltd., Venkatesapuram, Bank of India Upstairs, Perambalur. ... Respondents

PRAYER: Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is filed under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, against the Judgment and Decree dated 26.09.2019 passed in M.C.O.P.No.270 of 2017 on the file of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal / Principal District Court, Perambalur. For Appellant : Mr.T.Gopinath For Respondents : Mr.S.Arun Kumar [R2 & R4] R1 and R3 - No Appearance

JUDGMENT

This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal has been preferred by the claimant herein against the Award dated 26.09.2019 passed in M.C.O.P.No.251 of 2017 on the file of Motor Accident Claims Tribunal / Principal District Court, Perambalur for enhancement of compensation.

2. Parties are indicated herein as per their litigative status and ranking before the Tribunal.

3. The claimant herein had filed Claim Petition under Section 166 of

Motor Vehicles Act,1988 claiming compensation of Rs.15,00,000/- from the respondents for the injuries sustained by the minor Thanuja in a road traffic accident that occurred on 21.11.2016.

4. The Tribunal upon consideration of evidence granted

compensation of Rs.2,33,000/- with interest at the rate of 7.5% p.a., from the date of filing of petition. The amounts granted by the Tribunal under various heads are given hereunder: Sl. Description Amount awarded No. by Tribunal 1 For Partial Permanent Rs.1,20,000/- Disability 2 For Extra Nourishment Rs. 10,000/- 3 For Pain and Sufferings Rs. 20,000/- 4 For Medical Expenses Rs. 83,000/- Total Rs.2,33,000/-

5. It is the evidence of the brother and guardian of claimant Minor

Thanjua (PW3) that the minor sustained injury on her lips and fracture of L3, dislocation of right hip. The minor was admitted at the Hospital on 22.11.2016 and got discharged on 28.11.2016, as per Ex.P14 discharge

summary issued by Medical Trust Hospital, Cochin. The District Medical

Board assessed the disability of the minor as 40%. In consideration of the injuries and age of the petitioner, disability is fixed as 35% for the whole body. For partial permanent disability, taking into consideration of the age of the claimant, nature of the injury and date of the accident, a sum of Rs.5,000/- per percentage is granted (Rs.5,000/- X 35% = Rs.1,75,000/-). For attender charges and for loss of amenities, an amount of Rs.10,000/- under each head is granted. As regards other heads, the amount awarded by the Tribunal appears to be reasonable and acceptable and therefore it does not warrant any interference by this Court. Therefore, the amounts awarded as mentioned supra is reworked and tabulated as given hereunder:

Sl. Description Amount Amount Award No. awarded by awarded by confirmed Tribunal this Court or enhanced or granted or reduced 1 For partial Rs.1,20,000/- Rs.1,75,000/- Enhanced permanent disability 2 Towards extra Rs. 10,000/- Rs. 10,000/- Confirmed nourishment 3 Towards - Rs. 10,000/- Granted Attender Charges 4 Towards loss - Rs. 10,000/- Granted of amenities 5 Toward pain Rs. 20,000/- Rs. 20,000/- Confirmed and sufferings 6 Towards Rs. 83,000/- Rs. 83,000/- Confirmed Medical Expenses Total Rs.2,33,000/- Rs.3,08,000/-

6. Thus, the compensation awarded by the Tribunal is enhanced from Rs.2,33,000/- to Rs.3,08,000/- which would carry interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of petition.

7. In the result,

(i) This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal stands partly allowed.

(ii) The compensation awarded by the Tribunal is enhanced from Rs.2,33,000/- to Rs.3,08,000/-.

(iii) The 2nd respondent / Insurance Company is directed to deposit

the compensation amount now determined by this Court i.e., Rs.3,08,000/- (less the amount already deposited if any) together with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of claim petition (excluding the period of default, if any) to the credit of M.C.O.P.No.251 of 2017 before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Principal District Judge, Perambalur, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this

Judgment.

(iv) On such deposit being made, the claimant is at liberty to

withdraw the amount now determined by this Court along with interest and costs, after adjusting the amount, if any already withdrawn, by filing cheque application before the Tribunal. The claimant is directed to pay the Court fee for the compensation amount, if required. The Tribunal below shall disburse the compensation amount upon production of the certified copy showing proof of payment of Court fee by the claimant. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition if any stands closed. No costs. 28.11.2025 Index : Yes/No

Speaking / Non-speaking order

ssn R.KALAIMATHI, J., ssn To:

1. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Principal District Judge, Perambalur.

2. The Section Officer, V.R.Section, High Court of Madras, Chennai. 28.11.2025