A bare claim of suicide cannot rebut negligence supported by the accident investigation.

Srinivasa died in a road accident on 8 March 2022 involving a KSRTC bus.

His family claimed compensation, alleging that the bus driver’s rash and negligent driving caused the accident.

The Tribunal accepted that claim and awarded the respondents ₹18,21,104 with interest at 6% per annum.

KSRTC appealed, contending that Srinivasa had come under the bus to commit suicide and disputing the deceased’s age as assessed by the Tribunal.

The claimants maintained that the police investigation and charge-sheet supported their case and that the award was correct.

1. Whether the Tribunal was justified in finding that the accident resulting in Srinivasa’s death was caused by the rash and negligent driving of the KSRTC bus driver.

2. Whether the deceased’s age affected the applicable multiplier or the compensation awarded.

3. Whether the Tribunal’s award warranted interference in the appeal.

The appeal was brought under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The judgment also records that the police filed a charge-sheet against the bus driver under Sections 279 and 304A of the Indian Penal Code.

For the compensation calculation, the Court applied a multiplier of 13 for the deceased’s age group of 46–50 years.

The Court upheld the negligence finding because the deceased’s son filed a complaint on the day of the accident, the police investigation resulted in a charge-sheet against the driver, and the driver admitted that he had produced no documents establishing suicide.

KSRTC also did not examine any bus passenger or the investigating officer to support its account; the driver had not challenged the charge-sheet.

As to age, the claim petition stated that Srinivasa was 48, and his Aadhaar card indicated a birth year of 1974.

The Court held that the Tribunal’s assessment of 46 did not affect the result because both ages fell within the 46–50 age group, attracting multiplier 13.

KSRTC had not otherwise challenged the compensation calculation.

It dismissed KSRTC’s appeal, leaving the Tribunal’s award of ₹18,21,104 with interest at 6% per annum undisturbed.