HC hikes compensation awarded by tribunal manifold

The Madras High Court has hiked manifold the compensation awarded to four dependents of a 34-year-old man, who died in a road accident in 2013, from Rs 18.22 lakh to Rs 1.01 crore.

A division bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and Krishnan Ramaswamy passed the order while noting that the motor accident claims tribunal, which awarded Rs 18 lakh, had failed to follow the guidelines set by the Supreme Court to calculate compensation in such cases.

On September 22, 2013, Sabari Girishan, who was riding a motorcycle, was hit by a speeding car on the Ponnamallee-Vandalore road.

He was seriously injured and died on the spot.

Subsequently, his wife, her minor daughter and parents moved the tribunal, seeking Rs 60 lakh as due compensation for his loss.

On April 5, 2016, the tribunal directed the car insurer to pay Rs 18.22 lakh as compensation.

Aggrieved, the applicants moved the court, seeking enhancement of compensation.

The court noted that the tribunal has failed to consider the age of the deceased and many other factors while calculating the compensation and enhanced the compensation to Rs 1.01 crore.