Compensation enhanced by reassessing income at applicable minimum wages and increasing conventional-head awards.

Ranjit Singh Netam died from injuries sustained in a truck accident on 14 November 2019.

His dependants sought compensation from the driver, owner and insurer.

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Bilaspur, awarded ₹12,98,500, assessing his monthly income at ₹7,800 and awarding ₹70,000 under conventional heads.

The claimants appealed for enhancement, contending that both the income assessment and conventional-head compensation were inadequate

Whether the Tribunal’s assessment of the deceased’s monthly income at ₹7,800 should be revised in light of the applicable minimum-wage notification [para. 5].

Whether the compensation awarded under conventional heads should be enhanced [paras. 5–6].

The Court relied on *National Insurance Company Ltd. v. Pranay Sethi*, *Sarla Verma & Ors. v. Delhi Transport Corporation & Ors.*, and *Magma General Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Nanu Ram @ Chuhru Ram & Ors.* in assessing compensation, including future prospects, personal-expense deductions, multiplier and conventional heads [para. 6].

It applied the Chhattisgarh minimum-wage notification to determine the deceased’s income at the relevant time [para. 5].

On the facts, the Court accepted a 25% addition for future prospects, a one-fourth deduction for personal and living expenses, and multiplier 14; it found the Tribunal’s conventional-head award of ₹70,000 inadequate and assessed that component at ₹1,90,000 [paras. 5–6].

The Court found that the applicable minimum wage was ₹8,600 per month, rather than the Tribunal’s ₹7,800.

Applying the affirmed 25% future-prospects addition, one-fourth deduction and multiplier 14, it calculated loss of dependency at ₹13,54,500.

It also increased conventional-head compensation from ₹70,000 to ₹1,90,000.

The resulting total compensation was ₹15,44,500

The appellants were awarded an additional ₹2,46,000, carrying interest at 6% per annum from the date of enhancement until realization.

The remaining terms of the Tribunal’s award were left undisturbed, and the Registry was directed to communicate the enhanced amount to the claimants in Hindi