Date:06/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/06/stories/2007100653070500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

High Court doubles compensation amount to road accident victim High court round-up

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Friday enhanced the compensation given to a victim of a road accident from Rs. 4.02 lakh to Rs. 9 lakh.

A Division Bench comprising Justice K.L. Manjunath and Justice Jawed Rahim passed the order on an appeal by M. Manjunath (35) who had lost one of his legs after he was hit by a lorry near Hebbagodi, Bangalore, on April 24, 1995.

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) had awarded him a compensation of Rs. 4.02 lakh. A Supervisor with ECC (L and T), Manjunatha claimed that he was drawing a salary of Rs. 4,600 a month. He said the accident led to fracture of his thigh and hip bone, compound fracture to the right femur, and injury to the bladder. He said he underwent treatment in a hospital in Bangalore and that he was an in-patient for 178 days and underwent operations thrice. He said the abdominal region and intestine was operated upon. As he could neither sit nor stand properly and he was unfit to even discharge normal duties, he was terminated from service. He said the MACT had awarded him only Rs. 4.02 lakh. He urged the High Court to award him Rs. 13.81 lakh.

The Bench enhanced the compensation to Rs. 9 lakh, including Rs. 2.50 lakh towards medical treatment he would need in future.

Dismissed

Justice Mohan Shantangouder on Friday dismissed petitions by Sikkim, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunuchal Pradesh and several lottery firms challenging the levy of lottery tax on them. The petitioners contended that the State did not have power to levy tax on them. Justice Mohan Shantangouder dismissed the petitions.

Upheld

Justice Ajit J. Gunjal on Friday upheld the action of the State Government in selling Dhanalakshmi Sugar Factory in Ramdurg taluk of Belgaum district to a private firm and dismissed writ petitions by Somappa and others against the sale.

Pulled up

A Division Bench comprising Justice K.L. Manjunath and Justice Jawed Rahim on Friday orally asked the Chikjala police for not arresting a person even after a complaint was given against the accused.

The Bench was dealing with a habeas corpus petition seeking a direction to the Chikajala police to produce Ramesh, a member of a gram panchayat who had been kidnapped.

The Bench said although Ramesh came to be released, the police had not taken action to arrest kidnappers.

The Bench asked the State Public Prosecutor why the police could not apprehend the accused even after Ramesh identified his kidnappers. It said the police had so far not filed affidavits after Ramesh alleged that details of the court proceedings relating to the case were being told to the kidnappers.