For a 2019 accident, the claimant’s notional monthly income was assessed at ₹14,000.

On 9 February 2019, the appellant was injured when a car in which he was travelling overturned while its driver attempted to avoid a cow.

He claimed compensation for his injuries, asserting that he worked as a mason and earned ₹20,000 per month.

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal partly allowed his claim and awarded ₹5,87,320.

The claimant appealed under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking enhancement, including on the grounds of inadequate assessment of income, disability and compensation under other heads

The appeal was brought under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which provides for an appeal against an award of a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal.

The judgment applied no identified precedent or separately articulated statutory test for quantifying compensation.

It assessed compensation by considering notional monthly income and the claimant’s injuries, and by revising amounts under the relevant heads of loss

The High Court found that the Tribunal had fixed the claimant’s monthly income at ₹9,000 without valid reasons.

Although the claimant asserted earnings of ₹20,000 per month, the Court adopted ₹14,000 as the notional monthly income for 2019.

It then recalculated compensation, increasing the amounts for pain and suffering, loss of income during the laid-up period, loss of earning due to disability, and loss of amenities, and awarding ₹30,000 for future medical expenses.

Medical expenses and food, nourishment, conveyance and attendant charges remained unchanged.

The total compensation was enhanced from ₹5,87,320 to ₹6,94,300, giving the claimant an additional ₹1,06,980.

The enhanced amount was directed to carry interest at 6% per annum from the date of the appeal until realization and to be deposited within six weeks of receipt of the certified copy.

The Tribunal was directed to release the entire amount to the claimant.