Future earning-capacity loss must reflect accident-year notional income, the applicable multiplier, and assessed disability.

The appellant was injured when a tempo allegedly struck him on 6 January 2012. He sustained, among other injuries, fractures to the tibia and fibula and was treated as an inpatient for 11 days.

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded ₹2,92,800 in compensation. The appellant appealed under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking enhancement.

The High Court noted the claimant’s age as 35, applied a notional income of ₹7,000 per month and assessed disability at 8%.

1. Whether the compensation awarded by the Tribunal required enhancement, including reassessment of loss of future earning capacity and loss of amenities.

2. Whether the Tribunal’s finding fastening liability on the vehicle owner was proper.

The appeal was brought under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

In reassessing compensation, the Court applied the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority’s notional-income chart for an accident in 2012, fixing monthly income at ₹7,000; it used a multiplier of 16 for a claimant aged 35 and assessed 8% disability to calculate loss of future earning capacity.

The Court considered the claimant’s age, the nature of his injuries and the medical records, and recalculated loss of future earning capacity as ₹1,07,520 (₹7,000 × 12 × 16 × 8%).

It increased the amounts for loss of income from ₹36,000 to ₹42,000 and loss of amenities from ₹30,000 to ₹50,000, while leaving the other listed heads unchanged.

The Court also stated that fastening liability on the owner was not proper, but gave no detailed reasoning on that point.

The operative order grants interest on the enhanced amount at 6% per annum from the date of the appeal until realization, directs respondent No. 2 to deposit it within eight weeks, and directs release of the entire amount to the claimant on identification.

The Court also stated that the delay period would not carry interest.