Sayar & Ors Vs Ramkaran & Ors (Supreme Court of India)
The appeal before the Supreme Court arose from a judgment of the Rajasthan High Court dated 25 April 2025 concerning compensation awarded in a motor accident claim. The case related to the death of Rajendra Singh Gena, aged 32, who died on 27 June 2006 after the truck driven by Respondent No. 2 allegedly hit the vehicle in which he was travelling. An FIR was registered against the truck driver under Sections 279, 337 and 304A IPC. The legal representatives of the deceased filed a claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 seeking compensation of ₹68,94,000/-, stating that the deceased earned ₹84,000 per annum in 2004–05 and ₹1,26,000 per annum in 2005–06 through transport and agricultural activities.
The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, by order dated 9 June 2009, awarded ₹9,74,000 with 7.5% interest, assessing the annual income at ₹84,000, deducting one-third for personal expenses, and applying a multiplier of 17. Aggrieved, the claimants appealed seeking enhancement, arguing that the Tribunal did not consider the higher income claimed, agricultural income, or amounts under loss of estate and future prospects. The High Court partly allowed the appeal and enhanced the compensation to ₹16,01,200, granting amounts under future prospects, loss of consortium, loss of estate and other conventional heads. It deducted one-fourth of the income based on the number of dependents, applying principles from Pranay Sethi.
