MAC.APP./959/2012 of UNITED INDIA INSURANCE CO LTD Vs SURAT SINGH MEHTA & ORS

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ MAC APP. 959/2012

Date of decision: 31[st] August, 2012

UNITED INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY LTD. ..... Appellant Through: Mr. Sankar N. Sinha, Adv.

versus

SURAT SINGH MEHTA & ORS. Through:

Nemo.

..... Respondents

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G.P.MITTAL

J U M N T

G. P. MITTAL, J. (ORAL)CM APPL.15117/2012 (Exemption)

Exemption allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

The Application is allowed.

CM APPL.15116 /2012 (Delay)

For the reasons as stated in the Application, the delay of 42 days in filing the Appeal is condoned.

The Application is allowed.

MAC APP. 959/2012

1.The Appellant United India Insurance Company Ltd. seeks reduction of compensation of `18,00,920/- awarded for the death of Smt. Kalawati, who died in motor vehicle accident which occurred on 20.12.2011.

2.The Claims Tribunal followed the judgment of this Court in Royal Sundaram Alliance Insurance Co Ltd.v. Master Manmeet Singh & Ors., MAC APP.590/2011, decided on 31.01.2012 and took the value of the gratuitous services rendered by the housewife as per the minimum wages of non-Matriculate, made an addition of 25%. Considering that the deceased Kalawati (a housewife) was aged less than 40 years, the multiplier of 16 was applied according to the age of the deceased. Sundaram Alliance Insurance Co Ltd.v. Master Manmeet Singh & Ors., MAC APP.590/2011, decided on 31.01.2012 and took the value of the gratuitous services rendered by the housewife as per the minimum wages of non-Matriculate, made an addition of 25%. Considering that the deceased Kalawati (a housewife) was aged less than 40 years, the multiplier of 16 was applied according to the age of the deceased.

3.It is urged by the learned counsel for the Appellant that there should have been deduction of one-third towards the personal and living expenses while computing the loss of dependency. been deduction of one-third towards the personal and living expenses while computing the loss of dependency.

4.In Master Manmeet Singh this Court noticed the following judgments of the Supreme Court:-the Supreme Court:-

(i)General Manager, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, Trivandrum v. Susamma Thomas (Mrs.) and Ors. (1994) 2 SCC 176, Trivandrum v. Susamma Thomas (Mrs.) and Ors. (1994) 2 SCC 176,

(ii)National Insurance Company Limited v. Deepika & Ors., 2010 (4) ACJ 2221,ACJ 2221,

(iii)Amar Singh Thukral v. Sandeed Chhatwal, ILR (2004) 2 Del 1,

(iv)Lata Wadhwa & Ors. v. State of Bihar & Ors., (2001) 8 SCC 197,

(v)Gobald Motor Service Ltd. & Anr. v. R.M.K. Veluswami & Ors., AIR 1962 SC 1, AIR 1962 SC 1,

(vi)A. Rajam v. M. Manikya Reddy & Anr., MANU/AP/0303/1988,

(vii)Morris v. Rigby (1966) 110 Sol Jo 834 and

(viii)Regan v. Williamson 1977 ACJ 331 (QBD England),

and laid down the principle for determination of loss of dependency on account of gratuitous services rendered by housewife. Para 34 of the judgment in Master Manmeet Singh (supra) is extracted hereunder:-

“34. To sum up, the loss of dependency on account of gratuitous services rendered by housewife shall be:-

(i) Minimum salary of Graduate where she is Graduate.

(ii) Minimum salary of Matriculate where she is Matriculate. Matriculate.

(iii)Minimum salary of non-Matriculate in other cases.

(iv)There will be an addition of 25% in the assumed income in (i), (ii) and (iii) where the age of the homemaker is upto 40 years; the increase will be restricted to 15% where her age is above 40 years but less than 50 years; there will not be any addition in the assumed salary where the age is more than 50 years. (i), (ii) and (iii) where the age of the homemaker is upto 40 years; the increase will be restricted to 15% where her age is above 40 years but less than 50 years; there will not be any addition in the assumed salary where the age is more than 50 years.

(v) When the deceased home maker is above 55 years but less than 60 years; there will be deduction of 25%; and when the deceased home maker is above 60 years there will be deduction of 50% in the assumed income as the services rendered decrease substantially. Normally, the value of gratuitous services rendered will be NIL (unless there is evidence to the contrary) when the home maker is above 65 years. than 60 years; there will be deduction of 25%; and when the deceased home maker is above 60 years there will be deduction of 50% in the assumed income as the services rendered decrease substantially. Normally, the value of gratuitous services rendered will be NIL (unless there is evidence to the contrary) when the home maker is above 65 years.

(vi)If housewife dies issueless, the contribution towards the gratuitous services is much less, as there are greater chances of the husband’s re-marriage. In such cases, the loss of dependency shall be 50% of the income as per the qualification stated in (i), (ii) and (iii) above and addition and deduction thereon as per (iv) and (v) above. gratuitous services is much less, as there are greater chances of the husband’s re-marriage. In such cases, the loss of dependency shall be 50% of the income as per the qualification stated in (i), (ii) and (iii) above and addition and deduction thereon as per (iv) and (v) above.

(vii)There shall not be any deduction towards the personal and living expenses. living expenses.

(viii)As an attempt has been made to compensate the loss of dependency, only notional sum which may be upto ` 25,000/- (on present scale of the money value) towards loss of love and affection and ` 10,000/- towards loss of consortium, if the husband is alive, may be awarded. dependency, only notional sum which may be upto ` 25,000/- (on present scale of the money value) towards loss of love and affection and ` 10,000/- towards loss of consortium, if the husband is alive, may be awarded.

(ix)Since homemaker is not working and thus not earning, no amount should be awarded towards loss of estate.”amount should be awarded towards loss of estate.”

5.Thus, it can be seen that as per Para 34 (vii), this Court laid down that there will not be any deduction towards the personal and living expenses while computing the compensation for the death of housewife. there will not be any deduction towards the personal and living expenses while computing the compensation for the death of housewife.

6.An Appeal being SLP (C) No.19711/2012 filed against the above referred judgment in ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited v. Shiv Kumar & Ors., was dismissed by the Supreme Court by an order dated 24.07.2012. judgment in ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited v. Shiv Kumar & Ors., was dismissed by the Supreme Court by an order dated 24.07.2012.

7.The Appeal is groundless; the same is accordingly dismissed.

8.The statutory deposit of `25,000/- shall be refunded to the Appellant Insurance Company. Insurance Company.

9.Pending Applications also stand disposed of.

AUGUST 31, 2012 vk

(G.P. MITTAL) JUDGE