For a 2016 accident, notional monthly income of ₹9,500 applies in calculating future loss of earnings.

On 17 July 2016, the appellant, then aged about 20, was riding a motorcycle when a Tata Indica car allegedly collided with it, causing injuries that required 30 days of inpatient treatment and two surgeries.

The Tribunal awarded compensation of ₹8,20,000 with interest at 6% per annum.

The claimant appealed under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, seeking enhancement, including reassessment of notional income, compensation for the laid-up period, and consideration of additional medical bills tendered under Order XLI Rule 27 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

1. Whether the claimant’s compensation for loss of future earnings and loss of earnings during the laid-up period should be enhanced by reassessing his notional income.

2. Whether the additional medical bills and related expenses warranted an increased award under the medical and incidental charges head.

The appeal was brought under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, which permits an appeal against an award of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal.

The Court applied the notional-income chart for the accident year to assess the claimant’s income, noting that the accident occurred in 2016 and adopting monthly income of ₹9,500 in the absence of proof of actual earnings.

It assessed future loss by applying a 50% deduction to that income and a multiplier of 18.

The judgment cites no precedent or specific statutory formula for the multiplier, disability assessment, or other heads of compensation.

Because the claimant had produced no documents establishing his actual earnings, the Court used a monthly notional income of ₹9,500.

It calculated future loss as ₹9,500 × 50% × 12 × 18, yielding ₹10,26,000.

It also increased compensation for amenities and happiness from ₹40,000 to ₹50,000, medical and incidental charges from ₹2,50,000 to ₹3,10,182, and laid-up-period earnings from ₹48,000 to ₹57,000.

The judgment records the request concerning additional medical bills but does not separately explain its evaluation of those bills.

The Court enhanced the total award from ₹8,20,000 to ₹14,93,182, making the enhancement ₹6,73,182, with interest at 6% per annum from the date of the appeal until realisation.

The insurer was directed to deposit the enhanced amount within eight weeks of receiving the certified judgment, and the Tribunal was directed to release the entire amount to the claimant upon proper identification.