Compensation for cattle killed in road accidents must reflect their individual value and utility.

On 18 July 2017, a bus driven by Respondent No. 1 allegedly struck the appellant’s nine cattle—three cows, four heifers and two calves. Seven died at the scene; the remaining two cows later died after sustaining injuries.

The Claims Tribunal awarded ₹70,000: ₹45,000 for the cattle, ₹20,000 for loss of milk and ₹5,000 for mental agony.

The claimant appealed under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking enhancement.

1. Whether the Tribunal’s assessment of compensation for the death of the cattle was inadequate and required enhancement.

2. Whether the claimant was entitled to compensation exceeding the ₹70,000 awarded by the Tribunal.

The appeal was brought under Section 173 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which provides for an appeal against an award of a Claims Tribunal.

The Court assessed the compensation by considering the evidence on record, including the damage panchnama, and the cattle’s nature, utility and circumstances.

The judgment cites no additional statutory provisions or precedents governing the valuation.

The Court found the Tribunal’s award unjustified in light of the evidence and the nature and utility of the cattle.

It reassessed the loss at ₹20,000 for each of the three cows and ₹10,000 for each of the six heifers and calves, totalling ₹1,20,000.

On that basis, it held that the Tribunal’s ₹70,000 award required enhancement.

The remaining terms of the Tribunal’s award were left unchanged.

The Registry was directed to communicate the enhanced amount to the claimants in Hindi.