HC enhances compensation of farmer who lost legs in mishap

The Madras High Court today almost doubled the compensation awarded by a lower court to a 61- year-old farmer who was seriously injured and had his legs amputated after an accident in 2013.
Justice S Vimala pronounced the verdict on an appeal by S Govindraj of Tiruvannamalai district against the order of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and IV Court of Small Causes, Chennai.
Allowing the appeal, the judge said, "An agriculturist is said to be the backbone of India..In the instant case, an agriculturist himself is robbed of his ability to stand erect for no fault of his."
Referring to a Supreme Court judgement, the judge enhanced the amount fixed by the lower court from Rs 11.86 lakh to Rs 21.45 lakh, taking into account the future prospective increase in income in the age group of 50 to 60 years, as the victim was unable to use artificial limbs.

In this case, the claimant had suffered both kinds of amputations, below knee and above knee, the judge said.
Hence, such an anomaly in the length of lower limbs resulted in the unsuitability of using artificial limbs, the judge observed.
Enhancing the awards announced by the lower court on various other heads, the judge fixed the total compensation at Rs 21.45 lakh.