Punjab & Haryana High Court Enhances Compensation for Family of Deceased Halwai; Corrects Income, Adds Future Prospects and Conventional Heads
Case Name: Lacchmi Devi vs. Harpal Singh & Others
Date of Judgment: 20 November 2025
Citation: FAO-7260-2015
Bench: Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Sudeepti Sharma
Held: The Punjab and Haryana High Court enhanced the motor accident compensation payable to the claimant on the death of Suresh Kumar @ Gogi, revising the monthly income to ₹5,500 in line with notified minimum wages, adding 25% future prospects, and granting amounts under loss of estate and other conventional heads. The total compensation was reassessed at ₹8,03,098, resulting in an enhancement of ₹2,02,698 with 9% interest.
Summary: The Tribunal had awarded ₹6,00,400 on the basis of an income figure that, according to the High Court, did not match the applicable minimum wage notifications. Referring to the post-mortem report, the Court accepted the deceased’s age as 46 and upheld multiplier 13. It found that the Tribunal had omitted future prospects and loss of estate, both of which were mandatory under Pranay Sethi and Magma General Insurance.
On recalculating with the corrected income, 25% future prospects, one-third deduction, and updated amounts under consortium and funeral expenses, the compensation rose to ₹8,03,098. Interest at 9% per annum on the enhanced portion was awarded from the date of filing.
Decision: The appeal was allowed. The respondent-insurer was directed to deposit the enhanced compensation with interest before the Tribunal within two months, to be disbursed to the claimant in terms of the existing apportionment.