Whole-body disability was reassessed at 16%, warranting enhanced compensation.

On 6 March 2015, the appellant was injured when his motorcycle collided with a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction.

He claimed that he sustained grievous injuries, including fractures, and that the injuries affected his ability to work in agriculture and milk vending.

The Tribunal awarded him ₹1,12,136, including ₹85,536 for permanent disability and loss of amenities, after assessing his whole-body disability at 12%.

The appellant appealed seeking enhancement; at the hearing, he confined his claim to the Tribunal’s assessment of disability.

Whether the Tribunal’s assessment of the appellant’s whole-body disability at 12% required enhancement in light of the injuries and disability evidence.

Whether the appellant was entitled to enhanced compensation for loss of income due to disability.

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

In assessing compensation for disability-related loss of income, the Court used the claimant’s annual income, the percentage of whole-body disability, and an age-based multiplier; it selected multiplier 17 for the appellant’s age and applied a 16% whole-body disability assessment.

The medical evidence recorded 50% disability to the upper limb and 3% to the lower limb, and the disability certificate was marked as Ex.P40.

Considering the appellant’s injuries, the Court found 16% whole-body disability reasonable, rather than the Tribunal’s 12%.

It accepted annual income of ₹40,000 and, applying multiplier 17, calculated disability-related loss of income at ₹1,08,800; the difference from the Tribunal’s ₹85,536 award under that head was ₹23,364.

The Court found the Tribunal’s awards under the other heads just and reasonable.

The Court enhanced compensation by ₹23,364, carrying interest at 6% per annum from the date of the petition until payment.

The insurer was directed to deposit the enhanced amount and accrued interest before the Tribunal within 60 days of receiving the certified judgment, for release to the appellant upon identification.