In Brief
A 23-year-old motorcycle pillion rider was killed when struck from behind by a car. The trial tribunal awarded his parents Rs. 11.67 lakh compensation, but the High Court reduced it to Rs. 4.14 lakh, finding him 10% contributorily negligent for riding with two others, rejecting his salary evidence, and applying a lower multiplier. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding: (1) mere violation of traffic law without causal nexus to the accident does not constitute contributory negligence; (2) unshaken oral employer testimony supported by certificate should not be rejected; and (3) the multiplier should be based on the deceased's age (18), not the dependents' age, per binding precedent.
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