In Brief
A twelve-year-old girl, Kajal, suffered severe head injuries after a truck hit the tractor she was traveling on with her parents. The accident left her with severe brain damage, rendering her 100% disabled with an I.Q. of a nine-month-old child, though her body would develop normally. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded ₹11.08 lakh and the High Court enhanced it to ₹25.78 lakh. The Supreme Court upheld the principle that just compensation must be awarded even if it exceeds the claimed amount, particularly for minors. The Court awarded ₹62.27 lakh using the multiplier method for future losses, accounting for lifelong attendant costs, medical expenses, and non-pecuniary damages. The entire amount was ordered invested in fixed deposits in nationalized banks with strict release protocols to protect the minor's interests.
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