Himachal HC enhances compensation to accident victim

Himachal High Court today enhanced the compensation awarded to an accident victim, who suffered permanent disability due to an accident caused by a private bus from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 12.5 lakh.
Allowing an appeal made by the victim, a single bench of Acting Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir held that the compensation of Rs 3 lakh awarded by the Tribunal is meagre and required to be enhanced keeping in view all factors necessary in assessing the compensation.
The claimant, who met with an accident on July 30, 2001, had suffered multiple grievous injuries, back bone and spinal joint dislocation, which made her life miserable.

Due to the accident, the claimant suffered permanent disability to the extent of 45 per cent.
The High Court observed that a housewife is the backbone of a home, maintaining the domestic home and taking all steps to keep her husband, children and other family members united, in good health and joyous mood.
She was not only deprived of the income from domestic work and selling milk, but also had to engage a helper for domestic help and has become permanently disabled, helpless, hapless and a burden on others, the court observed.
The High Court awarded Rs 3 lakh for pain and suffering undergone by claimant, Rs 75,000 for medical treatment, Rs 75,000 for future medical treatment, Rs 1.5 lakh under the head of loss of amenities and enjoyment of life, Rs 4.80 lakh were awarded under the head of future income, Rs 1.44 lakh under the head of wages of attendant, Rs 20,000 under for transport charges and Rs 10,000 under the head of special diet, and thus a total of Rs 12.54 lakh was awarded to the claimant with 7.5 per cent interest.