Original repair bills corroborated by damage evidence can establish vehicle-repair compensation in summary MACT proceedings.

On 20 November 2011, a bus operated by the respondent allegedly hit the appellant’s motorcycle, causing damage.

The Tribunal found the bus driver negligent and awarded ₹20,000 with interest at 6% per annum.

The appellant appealed under Section 173(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking enhancement, relying on repair bills totalling ₹49,150 and asserting that the motorcycle was unavailable for use during repairs

1. Whether the appellant was entitled to enhancement of compensation for damage to his motorcycle

2. Whether he was entitled to compensation for the period during which the motorcycle was unavailable for use

The claim was brought under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the appeal under Section 173(1)

The Court applied the principle that proceedings before a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal are summary in nature and that material with probative value may be accepted as evidence.

Original repair bills, assessed alongside evidence of the damage and repairs, may support an award for repair expenses

The Court identified no precedent as the basis for its decision.

The Tribunal had already found that the accident resulted from the bus driver’s negligence; the appeal concerned quantum

The Court considered the Motor Vehicle Inspector’s report, the original bills totalling ₹49,150, and the evidence of the appellant, the motorcycle’s rider, and the mechanic.

Although the mechanic did not confirm every purchase, the report supported the conclusion that the billed parts were used in repairing the motorcycle, and the respondent had not suggested that the repairs were unnecessary or unrelated to the accident

However, the evidence did not establish that repairs required three months.

The Court therefore allowed only nominal compensation of ₹5,000 for loss of use, treating the relevant period as approximately one month

The award was enhanced from ₹20,000 to ₹54,150, comprising ₹49,150 for repairs and ₹5,000 for loss of use, with interest at 6% per annum from the date of the claim petition until deposit.

The respondent was directed to deposit the amount within six weeks, after which it was to be released to the appellant