Directions for assessment of functional disability by the Claims Tribunal
6.1. All injuries or permanent disability arising from injuries do not result
in loss of earning capacity.
6.2. The percentage of permanent disability with reference to the whole
body of a person should not be mechanically assumed to be the percentage
of loss of earning capacity. To put it differently, the percentage of loss of
earning capacity is not the same as the percentage of permanent disability
(except in a few cases, where the Tribunal on the basis of evidence,
concludes that percentage of loss of earning capacity is the same as
percentage of permanent disability).
6.3. The doctor who treated an injured-claimant or who examined him
subsequently to assess the extent of his permanent disability can give
evidence of his medical opinion with regard to the extent of permanent
disability. However, the loss of earning capacity is something to be assessed
by the Claims Tribunal with reference to the evidence in its entirety.
6.4. The same permanent disability may result in different percentages of
loss of earning capacity in different persons, depending upon the nature of
profession, occupation or job, age, education and other factors.
6.5. Ascertainment of the effect of the permanent disability on the actual
earning capacity involves three steps:
(i) The Tribunal has to first ascertain what activities the claimant
could carry on in spite of the permanent disability and what he could not
do as a result of the permanent disability (this is also relevant for
awarding compensation under the head of loss of amenities of life).
(ii) The second step is to ascertain his avocation, profession and nature
of work before the accident, as also his age.
(iii) The third step is to find out whether :
a) The claimant is totally disabled from earning any kind of
livelihood, or
b) Whether in spite of the permanent disability, the claimant could
still effectively carry on the activities and functions, which he
was earlier carrying on, or
c) Whether he was prevented or restricted from discharging his
previous activities and functions, but could carry on some other
or lesser scale of activities and functions so that he continues to
earn or can continue to earn his livelihood.
6.6. The Claims Tribunal may consider co-opting a medical expert from
any Government Hospital for taking assistance in assessing the functional
disability. However, cases in which medical expert is co-opted, should be
taken up by a Claims Tribunal at a designated time so that the doctor is not
made to wait. The proceedings for assessment of the functional disability of
the claimant with the assistance of a medical expert should preferably be
conducted in camera and counsel for insurance company and authorised
representative of the insurance company be permitted to remain present.
6.7. The photographs of the injured portion should be taken on record in
every injury case and a reasoned finding should be recorded in respect of the
functional disability in terms of the principles laid down by the Supreme
Court in Raj Kumar v. Ajay Kumar (supra).
6.8. The photographs of the injured portion of the claimant should be
annexed to the award to enable the Appellate Court to peruse the same in the
event of the award being challenged. However, the photographs should not
be uploaded on the website of the Court.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
FAO 842/2003 & CM Applns.32859/2017, 41125-41127/2017
RAJESH TYAGI & ORS. Vs JAIBIR SINGH & ORS. .....
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE J.R. MIDHA
Dated: 09.03.2018
1. Mr. A.J. Bhambhani and Mr. Satyam Thareja, learned amici curiae
submit that the Doctors assess physical disability percentage without
recording any basis and the Claims Tribunals mechanically fix the
functional disability. It is submitted that Claims Tribunal do not conform to
any uniform practice or criteria. It is further submitted that the Claims
Tribunals just accept or slightly modify the disability as certified by the
Doctors which is not a healthy practice. It is submitted that the guidelines be
framed for the assessment of functional disability by the Claims Tribunal.
2. In Raj Kumar v. Ajay Kumar, (2011) 1 SCC 343, the Supreme Court
laid down principles for assessment of the functional disability. The
principles laid down by the Supreme Court are reproduced hereunder:-
“General principles relating to compensation in injury cases
4. The provision of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 ('Act' for short)
makes it clear that the award must be just, which means that
compensation should, to the extent possible, fully and adequately
restore the claimant to the position prior to the accident. The object of
awarding damages is to make good the loss suffered as a result of
wrong done as far as money can do so, in a fair, reasonable and
equitable manner. The court or tribunal shall have to assess the
damages objectively and exclude from consideration any speculation
or fancy, though some conjecture with reference to the nature of
disability and its consequences, is inevitable. A person is not only to
be compensated for the physical injury, but also for the loss which he
suffered as a result of such injury. This means that he is to be
compensated for his inability to lead a full life, his inability to enjoy
those normal amenities which he would have enjoyed but for the
injuries, and his inability to earn as much as he used to earn or could
have earned. (See C. K. Subramonia Iyer v. T. Kunhikuttan Nair –
AIR 1970 SC 376, R. D. Hattangadi v. Pest Control (India) Ltd. -
1995 (1) SCC 551 and Baker v. Willoughby – 1970 AC 467).
5. The heads under which compensation is awarded in personal injury
cases are the following:-
Pecuniary damages (Special Damages)
(i) Expenses relating to treatment, hospitalization, medicines,
transportation, nourishing food, and miscellaneous expenditure.
(ii) Loss of earnings (and other gains) which the injured would
have made had he not been injured, comprising:
(a) Loss of earning during the period of treatment;
(b) Loss of future earnings on account of permanent disability.
(iii) Future medical expenses.
Non-pecuniary damages (General Damages)
(iv) Damages for pain, suffering and trauma as a consequence of
the injuries.
(v) Loss of amenities (and/or loss of prospects of marriage).
(vi) Loss of expectation of life (shortening of normal longevity).
In routine personal injury cases, compensation will be awarded only
under heads (i), (ii)(a) and (iv). It is only in serious cases of injury,
where there is specific medical evidence corroborating the evidence of
the claimant, that compensation will be granted under any of the heads
(ii)(b), (iii), (v) and (vi) relating to loss of future earnings on account of
permanent disability, future medical expenses, loss of amenities (and/or
loss of prospects of marriage) and loss of expectation of life. Assessment
of pecuniary damages under item (i) and under item (ii)(a) do not pose
much difficulty as they involve reimbursement of actuals and are easily
ascertainable from the evidence. Award under the head of future medical
expenses – item (iii) – depends upon specific medical evidence regarding
need for further treatment and cost thereof. Assessment of non-pecuniary
damages – items (iv), (v) and (vi) –involves determination of lump sum
amounts with reference to circumstances such as age, nature of
injury/deprivation/disability suffered by the claimant and the effect
thereof on the future life of the claimant. Decision of this Court and High
Courts contain necessary guidelines for award under these heads, if
necessary. What usually poses some difficulty is the assessment of the
loss of future earnings on account of permanent disability - item (ii)(a).
We are concerned with that assessment in this case. Assessment of future
loss of earnings due to permanent disability.
The test to determine the functional disability was laid down as:
“8. Where the claimant suffers a permanent disability as a result of
injuries, the assessment of compensation under the head of loss of
future earnings, would depend upon the effect and impact of such
permanent disability on his earning capacity.”
The Supreme Court cautioned against mechanically applying the percentage
of permanent disability as the percentage of economic loss or loss of earning
capacity. The Supreme Court observed the following:-
“In most of the cases, equating the extent (percentage) of loss of
earning capacity to the extent (percentage) of permanent disability
will result in award of either too low or too high a compensation.
What requires to be assessed by the Tribunal is the effect of the
permanently disability on the earning capacity of the injured; and
after assessing the loss of earning capacity in terms of a percentage of
the income, it has to be quantified in terms of money, to arrive at the
future loss of earnings (by applying the standard multiplier method
used to determine loss of dependency). We may however note that in
some cases, on appreciation of evidence and assessment, the Tribunal
may find that percentage of loss of earning capacity as a result of the
permanent disability, is approximately the same as the percentage of
permanent disability in which case, of course, the Tribunal will adopt
the said percentage for determination of compensation”
3. In National Insurance Co Ltd v R.Sivakumar, 2011 ACJ 175 (Mad)
(DB), the Madras High Court stressed the need for uniform and consistent
practice/procedure in the assessment of permanent disability and functional
disability thereof. Relevant portion of the said judgment is reproduced
hereunder:-
“8.The erratic manner in which disability is assessed for fractures
and other injuries which are not as grievous as loss of limbs or
amputation is neither fair nor just. We feel that there should be some
consistency and some uniformity. It pains us to see extravagant
awards, for what is really not a major disability. The pain that the
injured feels is not something we are ignoring but what we have to
assess is the diminishment of his capacity to work and to the Loss of
Earning Capacity.
9. The starting salary the claimant might be receiving as a Civil
Engineer is fixed at Rs. 7,500/-. Since he is a Civil Engineer, he might
have to stand for long time in the open on the site and fracture of the
tibia might affect him in that regard. But at the same time, it is
difficult for us to accept 50% as the disability, since we find in
Schedule I, Part II of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, even
for amputation below knee with stump exceeding 12.70 cms the
percentage of disability is only 50%. In that case, mobility is reduced
and they may have to use some other assistance for the loss of limb
below the knee. The claimant's predicament in this case is not that
serious. Therefore, we are totally unable to justify the Tribunal taking
50% as disability for the fracture of Tibia. But taking note of the
nature of his education and his expertise and the possibility that he
might have to stand for a long time to pursue his avocation, we fix the
disability at 20%.
10. In “A Critique on Motor Vehicles Laws” (by Justice K. Kannan &
N. Vijayaraghavan, Advocate, 13th Edition, 2008), it is precisely this
predicament that is referred to. They observed that the expert
witnesses or Doctors, who appear before the Tribunals are stock
witnesses. They know no standards, do not conform to any uniform
practices. They do not follow any criteria. The Tribunals are also
under work pressure and therefore, they just accept or slightly modify
the disability as certified by those Doctors. In M. Jayanna's Case,
2005 ACJ 344 (AP), the unhealthy practices in this field are referred
to. In this book, there is a reference to the Notification issued by the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment dated 1.6.2001 for
applying consistency and uniformity in the assessment of Permanent
Disability. Guidelines have been drawn and if it is adopted, the
falsification of the degree of disability may be avoided. The authors of
this book have made a salutary suggestion which is that, a Medical
Board shall be constituted in each District and as a matter of rule, the
injured shall appear before the Medical Board and the disability shall
be assessed by the Board and the Certificate of Disability by the
Medical Board shall normally be accepted as binding on the Tribunal
without need for examination of the author of the same. They have
also suggested that a clause may be introduced in the Motor Vehicles
Act itself so that some uniform practice is achieved. We hope the
Parliament will take note of this.”
(Emphasis supplied)
4. In TATA AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Prabhu, 2017 ACJ 285
the Division Bench of Madras High Court noted the arbitrary assessment of
permanent disability by the Claims Tribunals. Relevant portion of the said
judgment is as under:-
“As pointed out by the apex court in Raj Kumar‟s case it may not be
proper to accept the physical disablement at 45% as is reflective of
the medical evidence, without critical examination or construe the
functional disability also to be of the same percentage. We find that
the Doctors assess percentage without identifying the basis for the
same and the claims tribunal mechanically reduce say 5% or 10%
and conclude that the reduced percentage was functional disability.
This is not a healthy practice. The cause for this problem is the near
arbitrary assessment of permanent disability by the set of Doctors
who regularly appear before the claims tribunals. We deem it is now
time to introduce or usher in a uniform and consistent procedure for
such assessment which would rid the need for even examining such
Doctors and save time for the claims tribunals to dispose of claims.
More importantly, it may rid the jurisdiction of the one „sore point‟
which is adding to the pendency and appeals too.”
(Emphasis supplied)
5. Rule 19 of Delhi Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal Rules, 2008
empowers the Claims Tribunal to co-opt a medical expert to assist the
Tribunal in conducting the inquiry. Rule 25 empowers the Claims Tribunal
to obtain supplementary information and documents from police, medical
and other authorities necessary for adjudication. Rules 19 and 25 of Delhi
Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal Rules, 2008 are reproduced hereunder:-
“Rule 19 - Co-opting of persons during inquiry.-
(1) The Claims Tribunal may if it thinks fit, co-opt one or more
persons possessing special knowledge with respect to any matter
relevant to the inquiry, to assist in holding the inquiry. (2) The
remuneration, if any, to be paid to the person(s) co-opted shall in
every case be determined by the Claims Tribunal.
Rule 25 - Obtaining of supplementary information and documents.-
The Claims Tribunal shall obtain whatever supplementary
information and documents, which may be found necessary from the
police, medical and other authorities and proceed to adjudicate upon
the claim whether the parties who were given notice appear or not on
the appointed date.”
6. Directions for assessment of functional disability by the Claims Tribunal
6.1. All injuries or permanent disability arising from injuries do not result
in loss of earning capacity.
6.2. The percentage of permanent disability with reference to the whole
body of a person should not be mechanically assumed to be the percentage
of loss of earning capacity. To put it differently, the percentage of loss of
earning capacity is not the same as the percentage of permanent disability
(except in a few cases, where the Tribunal on the basis of evidence,
concludes that percentage of loss of earning capacity is the same as
percentage of permanent disability).
6.3. The doctor who treated an injured-claimant or who examined him
subsequently to assess the extent of his permanent disability can give
evidence of his medical opinion with regard to the extent of permanent
disability. However, the loss of earning capacity is something to be assessed
by the Claims Tribunal with reference to the evidence in its entirety.
6.4. The same permanent disability may result in different percentages of
loss of earning capacity in different persons, depending upon the nature of
profession, occupation or job, age, education and other factors.
6.5. Ascertainment of the effect of the permanent disability on the actual
earning capacity involves three steps:
(i) The Tribunal has to first ascertain what activities the claimant
could carry on in spite of the permanent disability and what he could not
do as a result of the permanent disability (this is also relevant for
awarding compensation under the head of loss of amenities of life).
(ii) The second step is to ascertain his avocation, profession and nature
of work before the accident, as also his age.
(iii) The third step is to find out whether :
a) The claimant is totally disabled from earning any kind of
livelihood, or
b) Whether in spite of the permanent disability, the claimant could
still effectively carry on the activities and functions, which he
was earlier carrying on, or
c) Whether he was prevented or restricted from discharging his
previous activities and functions, but could carry on some other
or lesser scale of activities and functions so that he continues to
earn or can continue to earn his livelihood.
6.6. The Claims Tribunal may consider co-opting a medical expert from
any Government Hospital for taking assistance in assessing the functional
disability. However, cases in which medical expert is co-opted, should be
taken up by a Claims Tribunal at a designated time so that the doctor is not
made to wait. The proceedings for assessment of the functional disability of
the claimant with the assistance of a medical expert should preferably be
conducted in camera and counsel for insurance company and authorised
representative of the insurance company be permitted to remain present.
6.7. The photographs of the injured portion should be taken on record in
every injury case and a reasoned finding should be recorded in respect of the
functional disability in terms of the principles laid down by the Supreme
Court in Raj Kumar v. Ajay Kumar (supra).
6.8. The photographs of the injured portion of the claimant should be
annexed to the award to enable the Appellate Court to peruse the same in the
event of the award being challenged. However, the photographs should not
be uploaded on the website of the Court.
7. The learned amici curiae further submit that in case of amputation of
lower limbs, there is no uniformity in awarding the sum under the head of
‘cost of artificial limb’. It is further submitted that in many cases
exaggerated claims are being awarded without any verification. It is
submitted that guidelines for fixing of artificial limbs to the victims of motor
accidents be framed to avoid any exploitation of the claimants by the
suppliers. Reference is made to the order dated 19th February, 2018 in
MAC.APP. 1134/2017 titled ‘Ajay Kumar v. Shyam Sunder’.
8. In MAC.APP.1134/2017, this Court has formed a Committee to frame
guidelines for fixing of artificial limbs to the victims of motor accidents.
Relevant portion of the order dated 19th February, 2018 in MAC.APP
1134/2017 is reproduced hereunder:-
“1. Prof. (Dr.) R.K. Wadhwa, Physical, Medicine and
Rehabilitation Centre, Safdarjung Hospital; Prof. (Dr.) Diganta
Borah, Physical, Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre, Safdarjung
Hospital; Mr. Sohan Lal, I/C, P&O, Safdarjung Hospital; Dr.
Rakesh Rawat, Prosthetist & Orthotist, Pt. Deen Dayal Hospital;
Mr. Anand Bhatt, Prosthetist, Bhatt Surgical; Ms. Sanina Khan,
Prosthetist and Orthotist; Mr. Rajender Kumar, Regional Manager,
Endolite India Limited; Ms. Nupur Bhardwaj, Prothetist & Orthotist,
Ass. Rehabilitation Special and Mr. Dhananjay Kumar, Prothetist &
Orthotist, Centre Manager, Ottobock Healthcare India Pvt. Ltd.;
and Mr. Maan Govind, Manager, Artificial Limbs Corporation
Limited are present in terms of the order dated 04th January, 2018.
2. Mr. H.D. Sharma, Advocate, representing Artificial Limbs
Corporation Limited (ALIMCO) has handed over a note of
submissions with respect to the artificial limbs being manufactured
by ALIMCO. The note of submissions is taken on record.
3. After hearing the persons present in Court today, this Court is
of the view that there is need for standardisation of the assessment of
functional disability of the victims of the road accidents as well as
the procedure for fixing the artificial limb.
4. A committee comprising of Dr. K.J.S. Bansal, C.M.O., Delhi
High Court; Prof. (Dr.) R.K. Wadhwa, Prof. (Dr.) Diganta Borah;
Mr. Sohan Pal, Safdarjung Hospital; Dr. Jagdish Pandey,
Prosthetist and Orthotist, AIIMS; Dr. Rakesh Rawat, Prothetist and
Orthotist, Pt. Deen Dayal Hospital, Institute of Physically
Handicapped and Mr. R. Chandrasekaran, Secretary General,
General Insurance Council, National Insurance Building, 5th Floor,
14, J. Tata Road, Churchgate, Mumbai-400020 is constituted to
deliberate upon the following issues: -
(i) Constitution of a permanent Medical Board to determine
the physical and functional disability of victims of road
accidents in NCT of Delhi for the purpose of computation
of compensation.
(ii) Guidelines for fixing of artificial limbs to the victims of
road accidents.
(iii) Standardisation of the cost of artificial limbs to the victims
of road accidents.
5. Dr. K.J.S. Bansal shall be the Convenor of the Committee and
he shall convene the first meeting in the last week of February, 2018
in the Conference Hall of Safdarjung Hospital.
6. All the insurance companies shall submit their suggestions to
the Committee. The Committee shall prepare a list of all the
suppliers of the artificial limbs in NCT of Delhi and shall invite
suggestions from them with respect to the standardisation of the cost
as well as quality of the artificial limbs.”
(Emphasis supplied)
9. This Court is of the view that, till the Committee appointed by this
Court in MAC.APP.1134/2017 submits its report, it would be appropriate
for the Claims Tribunals to refer the cases of injured claimant, in which
artificial limbs are required, to the Committee appointed by this Court for
their opinion with respect to the requirement of the artificial limbs.
10. Learned amici curiae further submit that the insurance companies are
not appointing investigators to verify and assess the genuineness of claims in
all motor accident cases. It is submitted that the investigation and
assessment of the claimants by the insurance companies should be made
mandatory in all motor accident matters.
11. In the recent judgement dated 07
th March, 2018 in MAC.APP.
802/2017 titled ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd v.
Dinesh Kumar, this Court has observed that it is a duty of the insurance
companies to appoint an investigator to verify the claim as well as a
surveyor to assess the loss. Relevant portion of the said judgment is
reproduced hereunder:-
“6. This Court is of the view that the cases like the present one
have arisen because of the failure of the insurance companies to
appoint an investigator to verify the genuineness of the accident
and a surveyor to assess the loss. This practice is being regularly
followed by the insurance companies in all cases other than motor
accident claims. However, in cases of death and injuries arising out
of the motor accident claims, the insurance companies do not
ordinarily appoint any investigator or surveyor and they file the
written statement to deny everything for want of knowledge except
the insurance policy. The result of such an approach is that the
claimants exaggerate their claims to any extent as it has happened
in the present case. If the insurance company, in the present case,
had appointed the investigator and surveyor immediately upon
receiving the copy of DAR/claim application, this situation would
not have arisen. In the present case, the insurance company is not
even aware of the correct factual position which they were duty
bound to ascertain immediately upon getting the intimation about
the accident. Be that as it may, the insurance company is at liberty
to appoint an investigator/surveyor even at this stage and to lead
additional evidence before the Claims Tribunal. In
MAC.APP.821/2017 titled Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co.
Ltd. v. Devi Nandam Kumar, decided on 21st February, 2018, this
Court observed as under:
“This Court is of the view that the insurance
companies are duty bound to verify every claim by
appointing an Investigator to verify the genuineness of the
claim as well as the material particulars of the claim and a
surveyor to assess the loss suffered by the victim. In cases of
grievous injuries, the insurance companies should also get
the injured examined by an independent medical expert to
examine the injured and verify the medical claim of the
injured. However, the appellant, in the present case, does not
appear to have appointed any Investigator or surveyor to
verify and assess the claim of respondent No.1.”
12. Mr. R. Chandrasekaran, Secretary General of General Insurance
Council present in Court submits that he shall convene a meeting of all the
insurance companies to formulate standard guidelines for appointment of
investigator/surveyor in each and every case immediately upon the receipt of
intimation of the accident. It is further submitted that he shall consider
formulating a format as well as guidelines for the investigation and survey
of the motor accident cases. Let the first meeting be convened by Mr. R.
Chandrasekaran in the last week of March 2018 and the report of the GIC be
placed before this Court on the next date of hearing.
13. Learned amici curiae submit that more than 50% of vehicles in our
country are un-insured and no measures are being taken by police as well as
Road Transport Authority to stop the un-insured vehicles from plying on the
roads. The police/Road Transport Authority can start the verification of the
un-insured vehicles area-wise and they can publish in newspapers that on a
given day, they shall verify the vehicles in that area and the vehicle found
without an insurance policy shall be locked/clamped to prevent the uninsured
vehicle from plying on the road.
14. Mr. Rahul Mehra, learned senior standing counsel shall take up this
matter with Delhi Police as well as the Road Transport Authority for
implementation of this suggestion in respect of one locality in Delhi before
the next date and the status report shall be placed on record on the next date
of hearing.
15. Learned counsel from the office of Mr.Rahul Mehra, learned senior
standing counsel for GNCTD submits that insurance companies have not yet
submitted their suggestions and therefore, Mr.Rahul Mehra has not
convened the meeting in terms of order dated 18th January, 2018. Mr. A.K.
Soni, learned counsel submits that the suggestions of the insurance
companies have not yet been received. It is submitted that the suggestions
of the insurance companies shall be submitted positively within four weeks.
Mr. Rahul Mehra shall convene the meeting in the second week of April,
2018.
16. Learned amici curiae further submit that the opening of a savings
bank account near the place of the residence by the claimants is taking
considerable time especially where the claimants resides outside Delhi and
in some cases, it takes more than three months to complete the formalities to
open a savings bank account near the place of their residence. It is
submitted that the Claims Tribunals be permitted to release reasonable
amount to the claimants in their savings bank account in the Court complex
to enable them to bear medical, legal, travelling and other expenses.
17. Order dated 18th January, 2018 is clarified to the extent that the
Claims Tribunal may consider releasing reasonable amount not exceeding
10% of the total compensation to the claimants to their savings bank account
in the Court complex to enable them to meet their immediate requirements.
18. Mr. S.P. Jain, learned counsel for Oriental Insurance Company
submits that all the Claims Tribunals have not yet given the particulars of
their Branch account to enable the insurance companies to transfer the
amount by RTGS/NEFT mode directly to the account of Claims Tribunal.
The Claims Tribunal shall ensure the compliance of clause 27 of the order
dated 18th January, 2018 within a reasonable time.
19. Mr. Jitender Kamra, learned counsel seeks clarification of clause 8(e)
of the order dated 18th January, 2018. It is submitted that the Claims
Tribunal are insisting upon a separate letter from the banks apart from the
endorsement by the banks on the passbook(s) which is causing immense
inconvenience to the claimants as well as causing delay in releasing of the
compensation amount. Para 8(e) of the order dated 18th January, 2018 is
clarified to the extent that endorsement made by the bank along with the
duly signed and stamped by the bank official on the passbook(s) of the
claimant(s) is sufficient compliance of clause 8(e).
20. Mr. Lalit Bhasin, learned counsel for Indian Bank Association (IBA)
has handed over the minutes of the meeting dated 6th March, 2018 which are
taken on record. As per the said minutes, the Indian Bank Association has
broadly agreed to the suggestion of this Court to formulate a special scheme
for disbursement of the compensation amount to the victims of the road
accidents. The Indian Bank Association has circulated the minutes of the
meeting to their member banks and the response of the banks is awaited.
The decision of Indian Bank Association, after considering the response of
the banks, be placed on record on the next date of hearing.
21. UCO Bank, Delhi High Court Branch has handed over the report
according to which they have prepared a prototype of the special scheme
which is under trial. The letter dated 9th March, 2018 is taken on record.
Let the final report after trial of the software be placed on record on the next
date of hearing.
22. List for further hearing on 1st May, 2018 at 2.30 PM.
23. Copy of this order be given dasti to counsels for the parties as well as
to the counsels of the Insurance Companies, RBI, General Insurance
Council, Indian Banks Association, UCO Bank as well as to Mr. Sidharth
Luthra, Senior Advocate and Mr. A.J. Bhambhani, Senior Advocate as
learned amici curiae, Mr. Rahul Mehra, Sr. Standing Counsel (Crl.) for
GNCTD under signatures of the Court Master.
24. Copy of this order be sent to Registrar General of this Court who shall
circulate it to all the Claims Tribunals.
25. Copy of this order be sent to Delhi State Legal Services Authority and
to National Legal Services Authority.
J.R. MIDHA, J.
MARCH 09, 2018
Print Page
6.1. All injuries or permanent disability arising from injuries do not result
in loss of earning capacity.
6.2. The percentage of permanent disability with reference to the whole
body of a person should not be mechanically assumed to be the percentage
of loss of earning capacity. To put it differently, the percentage of loss of
earning capacity is not the same as the percentage of permanent disability
(except in a few cases, where the Tribunal on the basis of evidence,
concludes that percentage of loss of earning capacity is the same as
percentage of permanent disability).
6.3. The doctor who treated an injured-claimant or who examined him
subsequently to assess the extent of his permanent disability can give
evidence of his medical opinion with regard to the extent of permanent
disability. However, the loss of earning capacity is something to be assessed
by the Claims Tribunal with reference to the evidence in its entirety.
6.4. The same permanent disability may result in different percentages of
loss of earning capacity in different persons, depending upon the nature of
profession, occupation or job, age, education and other factors.
6.5. Ascertainment of the effect of the permanent disability on the actual
earning capacity involves three steps:
(i) The Tribunal has to first ascertain what activities the claimant
could carry on in spite of the permanent disability and what he could not
do as a result of the permanent disability (this is also relevant for
awarding compensation under the head of loss of amenities of life).
(ii) The second step is to ascertain his avocation, profession and nature
of work before the accident, as also his age.
(iii) The third step is to find out whether :
a) The claimant is totally disabled from earning any kind of
livelihood, or
b) Whether in spite of the permanent disability, the claimant could
still effectively carry on the activities and functions, which he
was earlier carrying on, or
c) Whether he was prevented or restricted from discharging his
previous activities and functions, but could carry on some other
or lesser scale of activities and functions so that he continues to
earn or can continue to earn his livelihood.
6.6. The Claims Tribunal may consider co-opting a medical expert from
any Government Hospital for taking assistance in assessing the functional
disability. However, cases in which medical expert is co-opted, should be
taken up by a Claims Tribunal at a designated time so that the doctor is not
made to wait. The proceedings for assessment of the functional disability of
the claimant with the assistance of a medical expert should preferably be
conducted in camera and counsel for insurance company and authorised
representative of the insurance company be permitted to remain present.
6.7. The photographs of the injured portion should be taken on record in
every injury case and a reasoned finding should be recorded in respect of the
functional disability in terms of the principles laid down by the Supreme
Court in Raj Kumar v. Ajay Kumar (supra).
6.8. The photographs of the injured portion of the claimant should be
annexed to the award to enable the Appellate Court to peruse the same in the
event of the award being challenged. However, the photographs should not
be uploaded on the website of the Court.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
FAO 842/2003 & CM Applns.32859/2017, 41125-41127/2017
RAJESH TYAGI & ORS. Vs JAIBIR SINGH & ORS. .....
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE J.R. MIDHA
Dated: 09.03.2018
submit that the Doctors assess physical disability percentage without
recording any basis and the Claims Tribunals mechanically fix the
functional disability. It is submitted that Claims Tribunal do not conform to
any uniform practice or criteria. It is further submitted that the Claims
Tribunals just accept or slightly modify the disability as certified by the
Doctors which is not a healthy practice. It is submitted that the guidelines be
framed for the assessment of functional disability by the Claims Tribunal.
2. In Raj Kumar v. Ajay Kumar, (2011) 1 SCC 343, the Supreme Court
laid down principles for assessment of the functional disability. The
principles laid down by the Supreme Court are reproduced hereunder:-
“General principles relating to compensation in injury cases
4. The provision of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 ('Act' for short)
makes it clear that the award must be just, which means that
compensation should, to the extent possible, fully and adequately
restore the claimant to the position prior to the accident. The object of
awarding damages is to make good the loss suffered as a result of
wrong done as far as money can do so, in a fair, reasonable and
equitable manner. The court or tribunal shall have to assess the
damages objectively and exclude from consideration any speculation
or fancy, though some conjecture with reference to the nature of
disability and its consequences, is inevitable. A person is not only to
be compensated for the physical injury, but also for the loss which he
suffered as a result of such injury. This means that he is to be
compensated for his inability to lead a full life, his inability to enjoy
those normal amenities which he would have enjoyed but for the
injuries, and his inability to earn as much as he used to earn or could
have earned. (See C. K. Subramonia Iyer v. T. Kunhikuttan Nair –
AIR 1970 SC 376, R. D. Hattangadi v. Pest Control (India) Ltd. -
1995 (1) SCC 551 and Baker v. Willoughby – 1970 AC 467).
5. The heads under which compensation is awarded in personal injury
cases are the following:-
Pecuniary damages (Special Damages)
(i) Expenses relating to treatment, hospitalization, medicines,
transportation, nourishing food, and miscellaneous expenditure.
(ii) Loss of earnings (and other gains) which the injured would
have made had he not been injured, comprising:
(a) Loss of earning during the period of treatment;
(b) Loss of future earnings on account of permanent disability.
(iii) Future medical expenses.
Non-pecuniary damages (General Damages)
(iv) Damages for pain, suffering and trauma as a consequence of
the injuries.
(v) Loss of amenities (and/or loss of prospects of marriage).
(vi) Loss of expectation of life (shortening of normal longevity).
In routine personal injury cases, compensation will be awarded only
under heads (i), (ii)(a) and (iv). It is only in serious cases of injury,
where there is specific medical evidence corroborating the evidence of
the claimant, that compensation will be granted under any of the heads
(ii)(b), (iii), (v) and (vi) relating to loss of future earnings on account of
permanent disability, future medical expenses, loss of amenities (and/or
loss of prospects of marriage) and loss of expectation of life. Assessment
of pecuniary damages under item (i) and under item (ii)(a) do not pose
much difficulty as they involve reimbursement of actuals and are easily
ascertainable from the evidence. Award under the head of future medical
expenses – item (iii) – depends upon specific medical evidence regarding
need for further treatment and cost thereof. Assessment of non-pecuniary
damages – items (iv), (v) and (vi) –involves determination of lump sum
amounts with reference to circumstances such as age, nature of
injury/deprivation/disability suffered by the claimant and the effect
thereof on the future life of the claimant. Decision of this Court and High
Courts contain necessary guidelines for award under these heads, if
necessary. What usually poses some difficulty is the assessment of the
loss of future earnings on account of permanent disability - item (ii)(a).
We are concerned with that assessment in this case. Assessment of future
loss of earnings due to permanent disability.
The test to determine the functional disability was laid down as:
“8. Where the claimant suffers a permanent disability as a result of
injuries, the assessment of compensation under the head of loss of
future earnings, would depend upon the effect and impact of such
permanent disability on his earning capacity.”
The Supreme Court cautioned against mechanically applying the percentage
of permanent disability as the percentage of economic loss or loss of earning
capacity. The Supreme Court observed the following:-
“In most of the cases, equating the extent (percentage) of loss of
earning capacity to the extent (percentage) of permanent disability
will result in award of either too low or too high a compensation.
What requires to be assessed by the Tribunal is the effect of the
permanently disability on the earning capacity of the injured; and
after assessing the loss of earning capacity in terms of a percentage of
the income, it has to be quantified in terms of money, to arrive at the
future loss of earnings (by applying the standard multiplier method
used to determine loss of dependency). We may however note that in
some cases, on appreciation of evidence and assessment, the Tribunal
may find that percentage of loss of earning capacity as a result of the
permanent disability, is approximately the same as the percentage of
permanent disability in which case, of course, the Tribunal will adopt
the said percentage for determination of compensation”
3. In National Insurance Co Ltd v R.Sivakumar, 2011 ACJ 175 (Mad)
(DB), the Madras High Court stressed the need for uniform and consistent
practice/procedure in the assessment of permanent disability and functional
disability thereof. Relevant portion of the said judgment is reproduced
hereunder:-
“8.The erratic manner in which disability is assessed for fractures
and other injuries which are not as grievous as loss of limbs or
amputation is neither fair nor just. We feel that there should be some
consistency and some uniformity. It pains us to see extravagant
awards, for what is really not a major disability. The pain that the
injured feels is not something we are ignoring but what we have to
assess is the diminishment of his capacity to work and to the Loss of
Earning Capacity.
9. The starting salary the claimant might be receiving as a Civil
Engineer is fixed at Rs. 7,500/-. Since he is a Civil Engineer, he might
have to stand for long time in the open on the site and fracture of the
tibia might affect him in that regard. But at the same time, it is
difficult for us to accept 50% as the disability, since we find in
Schedule I, Part II of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, even
for amputation below knee with stump exceeding 12.70 cms the
percentage of disability is only 50%. In that case, mobility is reduced
and they may have to use some other assistance for the loss of limb
below the knee. The claimant's predicament in this case is not that
serious. Therefore, we are totally unable to justify the Tribunal taking
50% as disability for the fracture of Tibia. But taking note of the
nature of his education and his expertise and the possibility that he
might have to stand for a long time to pursue his avocation, we fix the
disability at 20%.
10. In “A Critique on Motor Vehicles Laws” (by Justice K. Kannan &
N. Vijayaraghavan, Advocate, 13th Edition, 2008), it is precisely this
predicament that is referred to. They observed that the expert
witnesses or Doctors, who appear before the Tribunals are stock
witnesses. They know no standards, do not conform to any uniform
practices. They do not follow any criteria. The Tribunals are also
under work pressure and therefore, they just accept or slightly modify
the disability as certified by those Doctors. In M. Jayanna's Case,
2005 ACJ 344 (AP), the unhealthy practices in this field are referred
to. In this book, there is a reference to the Notification issued by the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment dated 1.6.2001 for
applying consistency and uniformity in the assessment of Permanent
Disability. Guidelines have been drawn and if it is adopted, the
falsification of the degree of disability may be avoided. The authors of
this book have made a salutary suggestion which is that, a Medical
Board shall be constituted in each District and as a matter of rule, the
injured shall appear before the Medical Board and the disability shall
be assessed by the Board and the Certificate of Disability by the
Medical Board shall normally be accepted as binding on the Tribunal
without need for examination of the author of the same. They have
also suggested that a clause may be introduced in the Motor Vehicles
Act itself so that some uniform practice is achieved. We hope the
Parliament will take note of this.”
(Emphasis supplied)
4. In TATA AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Prabhu, 2017 ACJ 285
the Division Bench of Madras High Court noted the arbitrary assessment of
permanent disability by the Claims Tribunals. Relevant portion of the said
judgment is as under:-
“As pointed out by the apex court in Raj Kumar‟s case it may not be
proper to accept the physical disablement at 45% as is reflective of
the medical evidence, without critical examination or construe the
functional disability also to be of the same percentage. We find that
the Doctors assess percentage without identifying the basis for the
same and the claims tribunal mechanically reduce say 5% or 10%
and conclude that the reduced percentage was functional disability.
This is not a healthy practice. The cause for this problem is the near
arbitrary assessment of permanent disability by the set of Doctors
who regularly appear before the claims tribunals. We deem it is now
time to introduce or usher in a uniform and consistent procedure for
such assessment which would rid the need for even examining such
Doctors and save time for the claims tribunals to dispose of claims.
More importantly, it may rid the jurisdiction of the one „sore point‟
which is adding to the pendency and appeals too.”
(Emphasis supplied)
5. Rule 19 of Delhi Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal Rules, 2008
empowers the Claims Tribunal to co-opt a medical expert to assist the
Tribunal in conducting the inquiry. Rule 25 empowers the Claims Tribunal
to obtain supplementary information and documents from police, medical
and other authorities necessary for adjudication. Rules 19 and 25 of Delhi
Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal Rules, 2008 are reproduced hereunder:-
“Rule 19 - Co-opting of persons during inquiry.-
(1) The Claims Tribunal may if it thinks fit, co-opt one or more
persons possessing special knowledge with respect to any matter
relevant to the inquiry, to assist in holding the inquiry. (2) The
remuneration, if any, to be paid to the person(s) co-opted shall in
every case be determined by the Claims Tribunal.
Rule 25 - Obtaining of supplementary information and documents.-
The Claims Tribunal shall obtain whatever supplementary
information and documents, which may be found necessary from the
police, medical and other authorities and proceed to adjudicate upon
the claim whether the parties who were given notice appear or not on
the appointed date.”
6. Directions for assessment of functional disability by the Claims Tribunal
6.1. All injuries or permanent disability arising from injuries do not result
in loss of earning capacity.
6.2. The percentage of permanent disability with reference to the whole
body of a person should not be mechanically assumed to be the percentage
of loss of earning capacity. To put it differently, the percentage of loss of
earning capacity is not the same as the percentage of permanent disability
(except in a few cases, where the Tribunal on the basis of evidence,
concludes that percentage of loss of earning capacity is the same as
percentage of permanent disability).
6.3. The doctor who treated an injured-claimant or who examined him
subsequently to assess the extent of his permanent disability can give
evidence of his medical opinion with regard to the extent of permanent
disability. However, the loss of earning capacity is something to be assessed
by the Claims Tribunal with reference to the evidence in its entirety.
6.4. The same permanent disability may result in different percentages of
loss of earning capacity in different persons, depending upon the nature of
profession, occupation or job, age, education and other factors.
6.5. Ascertainment of the effect of the permanent disability on the actual
earning capacity involves three steps:
(i) The Tribunal has to first ascertain what activities the claimant
could carry on in spite of the permanent disability and what he could not
do as a result of the permanent disability (this is also relevant for
awarding compensation under the head of loss of amenities of life).
(ii) The second step is to ascertain his avocation, profession and nature
of work before the accident, as also his age.
(iii) The third step is to find out whether :
a) The claimant is totally disabled from earning any kind of
livelihood, or
b) Whether in spite of the permanent disability, the claimant could
still effectively carry on the activities and functions, which he
was earlier carrying on, or
c) Whether he was prevented or restricted from discharging his
previous activities and functions, but could carry on some other
or lesser scale of activities and functions so that he continues to
earn or can continue to earn his livelihood.
6.6. The Claims Tribunal may consider co-opting a medical expert from
any Government Hospital for taking assistance in assessing the functional
disability. However, cases in which medical expert is co-opted, should be
taken up by a Claims Tribunal at a designated time so that the doctor is not
made to wait. The proceedings for assessment of the functional disability of
the claimant with the assistance of a medical expert should preferably be
conducted in camera and counsel for insurance company and authorised
representative of the insurance company be permitted to remain present.
6.7. The photographs of the injured portion should be taken on record in
every injury case and a reasoned finding should be recorded in respect of the
functional disability in terms of the principles laid down by the Supreme
Court in Raj Kumar v. Ajay Kumar (supra).
6.8. The photographs of the injured portion of the claimant should be
annexed to the award to enable the Appellate Court to peruse the same in the
event of the award being challenged. However, the photographs should not
be uploaded on the website of the Court.
7. The learned amici curiae further submit that in case of amputation of
lower limbs, there is no uniformity in awarding the sum under the head of
‘cost of artificial limb’. It is further submitted that in many cases
exaggerated claims are being awarded without any verification. It is
submitted that guidelines for fixing of artificial limbs to the victims of motor
accidents be framed to avoid any exploitation of the claimants by the
suppliers. Reference is made to the order dated 19th February, 2018 in
MAC.APP. 1134/2017 titled ‘Ajay Kumar v. Shyam Sunder’.
8. In MAC.APP.1134/2017, this Court has formed a Committee to frame
guidelines for fixing of artificial limbs to the victims of motor accidents.
Relevant portion of the order dated 19th February, 2018 in MAC.APP
1134/2017 is reproduced hereunder:-
“1. Prof. (Dr.) R.K. Wadhwa, Physical, Medicine and
Rehabilitation Centre, Safdarjung Hospital; Prof. (Dr.) Diganta
Borah, Physical, Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre, Safdarjung
Hospital; Mr. Sohan Lal, I/C, P&O, Safdarjung Hospital; Dr.
Rakesh Rawat, Prosthetist & Orthotist, Pt. Deen Dayal Hospital;
Mr. Anand Bhatt, Prosthetist, Bhatt Surgical; Ms. Sanina Khan,
Prosthetist and Orthotist; Mr. Rajender Kumar, Regional Manager,
Endolite India Limited; Ms. Nupur Bhardwaj, Prothetist & Orthotist,
Ass. Rehabilitation Special and Mr. Dhananjay Kumar, Prothetist &
Orthotist, Centre Manager, Ottobock Healthcare India Pvt. Ltd.;
and Mr. Maan Govind, Manager, Artificial Limbs Corporation
Limited are present in terms of the order dated 04th January, 2018.
2. Mr. H.D. Sharma, Advocate, representing Artificial Limbs
Corporation Limited (ALIMCO) has handed over a note of
submissions with respect to the artificial limbs being manufactured
by ALIMCO. The note of submissions is taken on record.
3. After hearing the persons present in Court today, this Court is
of the view that there is need for standardisation of the assessment of
functional disability of the victims of the road accidents as well as
the procedure for fixing the artificial limb.
4. A committee comprising of Dr. K.J.S. Bansal, C.M.O., Delhi
High Court; Prof. (Dr.) R.K. Wadhwa, Prof. (Dr.) Diganta Borah;
Mr. Sohan Pal, Safdarjung Hospital; Dr. Jagdish Pandey,
Prosthetist and Orthotist, AIIMS; Dr. Rakesh Rawat, Prothetist and
Orthotist, Pt. Deen Dayal Hospital, Institute of Physically
Handicapped and Mr. R. Chandrasekaran, Secretary General,
General Insurance Council, National Insurance Building, 5th Floor,
14, J. Tata Road, Churchgate, Mumbai-400020 is constituted to
deliberate upon the following issues: -
(i) Constitution of a permanent Medical Board to determine
the physical and functional disability of victims of road
accidents in NCT of Delhi for the purpose of computation
of compensation.
(ii) Guidelines for fixing of artificial limbs to the victims of
road accidents.
(iii) Standardisation of the cost of artificial limbs to the victims
of road accidents.
5. Dr. K.J.S. Bansal shall be the Convenor of the Committee and
he shall convene the first meeting in the last week of February, 2018
in the Conference Hall of Safdarjung Hospital.
6. All the insurance companies shall submit their suggestions to
the Committee. The Committee shall prepare a list of all the
suppliers of the artificial limbs in NCT of Delhi and shall invite
suggestions from them with respect to the standardisation of the cost
as well as quality of the artificial limbs.”
(Emphasis supplied)
9. This Court is of the view that, till the Committee appointed by this
Court in MAC.APP.1134/2017 submits its report, it would be appropriate
for the Claims Tribunals to refer the cases of injured claimant, in which
artificial limbs are required, to the Committee appointed by this Court for
their opinion with respect to the requirement of the artificial limbs.
10. Learned amici curiae further submit that the insurance companies are
not appointing investigators to verify and assess the genuineness of claims in
all motor accident cases. It is submitted that the investigation and
assessment of the claimants by the insurance companies should be made
mandatory in all motor accident matters.
11. In the recent judgement dated 07
th March, 2018 in MAC.APP.
802/2017 titled ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd v.
Dinesh Kumar, this Court has observed that it is a duty of the insurance
companies to appoint an investigator to verify the claim as well as a
surveyor to assess the loss. Relevant portion of the said judgment is
reproduced hereunder:-
“6. This Court is of the view that the cases like the present one
have arisen because of the failure of the insurance companies to
appoint an investigator to verify the genuineness of the accident
and a surveyor to assess the loss. This practice is being regularly
followed by the insurance companies in all cases other than motor
accident claims. However, in cases of death and injuries arising out
of the motor accident claims, the insurance companies do not
ordinarily appoint any investigator or surveyor and they file the
written statement to deny everything for want of knowledge except
the insurance policy. The result of such an approach is that the
claimants exaggerate their claims to any extent as it has happened
in the present case. If the insurance company, in the present case,
had appointed the investigator and surveyor immediately upon
receiving the copy of DAR/claim application, this situation would
not have arisen. In the present case, the insurance company is not
even aware of the correct factual position which they were duty
bound to ascertain immediately upon getting the intimation about
the accident. Be that as it may, the insurance company is at liberty
to appoint an investigator/surveyor even at this stage and to lead
additional evidence before the Claims Tribunal. In
MAC.APP.821/2017 titled Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co.
Ltd. v. Devi Nandam Kumar, decided on 21st February, 2018, this
Court observed as under:
“This Court is of the view that the insurance
companies are duty bound to verify every claim by
appointing an Investigator to verify the genuineness of the
claim as well as the material particulars of the claim and a
surveyor to assess the loss suffered by the victim. In cases of
grievous injuries, the insurance companies should also get
the injured examined by an independent medical expert to
examine the injured and verify the medical claim of the
injured. However, the appellant, in the present case, does not
appear to have appointed any Investigator or surveyor to
verify and assess the claim of respondent No.1.”
12. Mr. R. Chandrasekaran, Secretary General of General Insurance
Council present in Court submits that he shall convene a meeting of all the
insurance companies to formulate standard guidelines for appointment of
investigator/surveyor in each and every case immediately upon the receipt of
intimation of the accident. It is further submitted that he shall consider
formulating a format as well as guidelines for the investigation and survey
of the motor accident cases. Let the first meeting be convened by Mr. R.
Chandrasekaran in the last week of March 2018 and the report of the GIC be
placed before this Court on the next date of hearing.
13. Learned amici curiae submit that more than 50% of vehicles in our
country are un-insured and no measures are being taken by police as well as
Road Transport Authority to stop the un-insured vehicles from plying on the
roads. The police/Road Transport Authority can start the verification of the
un-insured vehicles area-wise and they can publish in newspapers that on a
given day, they shall verify the vehicles in that area and the vehicle found
without an insurance policy shall be locked/clamped to prevent the uninsured
vehicle from plying on the road.
14. Mr. Rahul Mehra, learned senior standing counsel shall take up this
matter with Delhi Police as well as the Road Transport Authority for
implementation of this suggestion in respect of one locality in Delhi before
the next date and the status report shall be placed on record on the next date
of hearing.
15. Learned counsel from the office of Mr.Rahul Mehra, learned senior
standing counsel for GNCTD submits that insurance companies have not yet
submitted their suggestions and therefore, Mr.Rahul Mehra has not
convened the meeting in terms of order dated 18th January, 2018. Mr. A.K.
Soni, learned counsel submits that the suggestions of the insurance
companies have not yet been received. It is submitted that the suggestions
of the insurance companies shall be submitted positively within four weeks.
Mr. Rahul Mehra shall convene the meeting in the second week of April,
2018.
16. Learned amici curiae further submit that the opening of a savings
bank account near the place of the residence by the claimants is taking
considerable time especially where the claimants resides outside Delhi and
in some cases, it takes more than three months to complete the formalities to
open a savings bank account near the place of their residence. It is
submitted that the Claims Tribunals be permitted to release reasonable
amount to the claimants in their savings bank account in the Court complex
to enable them to bear medical, legal, travelling and other expenses.
17. Order dated 18th January, 2018 is clarified to the extent that the
Claims Tribunal may consider releasing reasonable amount not exceeding
10% of the total compensation to the claimants to their savings bank account
in the Court complex to enable them to meet their immediate requirements.
18. Mr. S.P. Jain, learned counsel for Oriental Insurance Company
submits that all the Claims Tribunals have not yet given the particulars of
their Branch account to enable the insurance companies to transfer the
amount by RTGS/NEFT mode directly to the account of Claims Tribunal.
The Claims Tribunal shall ensure the compliance of clause 27 of the order
dated 18th January, 2018 within a reasonable time.
19. Mr. Jitender Kamra, learned counsel seeks clarification of clause 8(e)
of the order dated 18th January, 2018. It is submitted that the Claims
Tribunal are insisting upon a separate letter from the banks apart from the
endorsement by the banks on the passbook(s) which is causing immense
inconvenience to the claimants as well as causing delay in releasing of the
compensation amount. Para 8(e) of the order dated 18th January, 2018 is
clarified to the extent that endorsement made by the bank along with the
duly signed and stamped by the bank official on the passbook(s) of the
claimant(s) is sufficient compliance of clause 8(e).
20. Mr. Lalit Bhasin, learned counsel for Indian Bank Association (IBA)
has handed over the minutes of the meeting dated 6th March, 2018 which are
taken on record. As per the said minutes, the Indian Bank Association has
broadly agreed to the suggestion of this Court to formulate a special scheme
for disbursement of the compensation amount to the victims of the road
accidents. The Indian Bank Association has circulated the minutes of the
meeting to their member banks and the response of the banks is awaited.
The decision of Indian Bank Association, after considering the response of
the banks, be placed on record on the next date of hearing.
21. UCO Bank, Delhi High Court Branch has handed over the report
according to which they have prepared a prototype of the special scheme
which is under trial. The letter dated 9th March, 2018 is taken on record.
Let the final report after trial of the software be placed on record on the next
date of hearing.
22. List for further hearing on 1st May, 2018 at 2.30 PM.
23. Copy of this order be given dasti to counsels for the parties as well as
to the counsels of the Insurance Companies, RBI, General Insurance
Council, Indian Banks Association, UCO Bank as well as to Mr. Sidharth
Luthra, Senior Advocate and Mr. A.J. Bhambhani, Senior Advocate as
learned amici curiae, Mr. Rahul Mehra, Sr. Standing Counsel (Crl.) for
GNCTD under signatures of the Court Master.
24. Copy of this order be sent to Registrar General of this Court who shall
circulate it to all the Claims Tribunals.
25. Copy of this order be sent to Delhi State Legal Services Authority and
to National Legal Services Authority.
J.R. MIDHA, J.
MARCH 09, 2018
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