Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Gujarat High Court Raises 1992 Accident Compensation to Rs 6.19 Lakh
An advocate was badly injured in a truck accident in 1992.
A tribunal later awarded him Rs 3.42 lakh, but he appealed because he said the injuries affected his work and marital life.
The Gujarat High Court reviewed the amount and decided it should be higher.
It set his monthly income at Rs 2,500 instead of Rs 1,800.
The court added Rs 1.5 lakh for loss of marital life and increased the amount for pain and suffering.
The total award became Rs 6,19,460.
The insurer must also pay interest at 9% a year from the date he filed his claim.
The Gujarat High Court increased an advocate’s compensation for a 1992 truck accident from Rs 3.42 lakh to Rs 6,19,460.
The advocate suffered a pelvic fracture and urethral injury when a truck ran over him on June 23, 1992.
The court assessed his monthly income at Rs 2,500, compared with the tribunal’s Rs 1,800 estimate.
It awarded Rs 1.5 lakh for loss of marital life and raised damages for pain, shock and suffering to Rs 50,000.
The insurer was directed to pay the enhanced amount with 9% annual interest; interest on the full award runs from the claim filing date.
- Who
- A Gujarat advocate injured in the accident; the Gujarat High Court reviewed his compensation claim.
- What
- The High Court increased his compensation to Rs 6,19,460 and ordered 9% annual interest from the claim filing date.
- When
- The accident occurred on June 23, 1992; the High Court issued the compensation ruling more than three decades later.
- Where
- The accident happened near Kamrej in Surat, while the advocate was travelling towards a bridge over the Tapi river.
- Why
- The court found the tribunal’s income assessment too low and treated loss of marital life as a distinct head of damages.
Claimant’s position
Tribunal’s earlier assessment
Income and earning capacity
Claimant’s position
The advocate argued that his injuries reduced his working capacity; the High Court considered monthly income of Rs 2,500 appropriate.
Tribunal’s earlier assessment
The tribunal had assessed his monthly income at Rs 1,800.
Loss of marital life
Claimant’s position
The advocate sought compensation, arguing that his injuries affected his ability to lead a normal marital life; the High Court awarded Rs 1.5 lakh under this separate head.
Tribunal’s earlier assessment
The tribunal had not awarded compensation for loss of marital life.
Interest calculation
Claimant’s position
The High Court directed interest on the full compensation from the date the claim petition was filed.
Tribunal’s earlier assessment
The tribunal had calculated interest only from February 4, 2011, when the truck owner was served with notice.
- Accident date
- June 23, 1992
- Original tribunal award
- Rs 3.42 lakh, awarded in July 2014
- Revised total compensation
- Rs 6,19,460
- Increase over tribunal award
- Rs 2,77,432
- Loss of marital life award
- Rs 1.5 lakh
- Interest rate
- 9% per annum from the date the claim petition was filed
- Payment deadline
- The insurer was directed to deposit the enhanced compensation within 12 weeks of receiving the order