Awarded compensation must include verified medical expenses incurred during hospitalization prior to the victim's death.

The applicants (original claimants) were awarded Rs. 40,16,519/- by the Second Additional Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Raipur, in Claims Case No. 87/2015.

Aggrieved by the quantum, they filed MAC No. 151 of 2018 for enhancement.

On 19.02.2026, the High Court recomputed the compensation but inadvertently reduced it to Rs. 33,04,251/- because it failed to incorporate medical expenses incurred during the deceased’s two-month hospitalization.

The applicants filed the present Miscellaneous Civil Case (MCC) seeking modification of that order to include the omitted medical expenses.

Whether the order dated 19.02.2026 passed in MAC No. 151 of 2018 requires modification to include medical expenses verified by the Tribunal but omitted during the High Court's recomputation.

The Court exercised its inherent and plenary powers to correct an error apparent on the face of the record during the quantification of compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

It applied the principle of "just compensation," ensuring that established pecuniary losses—specifically medical expenses supported by documentary evidence and doctor testimonies—are included in the final award.

The Court scrutinized the original Tribunal award dated 22.07.2017 and confirmed that the deceased remained hospitalized from 28.09.2014 to 27.11.2014.

While the Tribunal had initially determined medical expenses at Rs. 16,80,419/-, the High Court re-verified the records and doctor testimonies to ascertain the actual medical expenditure as Rs. 14,85,279/- (comprising three specific sums: Rs. 4,04,290/-, Rs. 3,92,459/-, and Rs. 6,88,530/-).

The Court reasoned that since this head of compensation was mistakenly omitted in the previous appellate order, it was necessary to modify the tabulated format to rectify the oversight and ensure the claimants receive the full amount they are legally entitled to.

The Court allowed the MCC and modified the order dated 19.02.2026, directing that the interest rate awarded by the Tribunal would apply to this revised amount and clarified that all other aspects of the previous order remain intact.