In Brief
A 52-year-old Assistant Professor died in a motor vehicle accident, leaving behind his wife, two daughters, and mother-in-law. The family sought compensation. The High Court excluded the mother-in-law as a legal representative and reduced compensation by using a split multiplier. The Supreme Court held that 'legal representative' under the Motor Vehicles Act must be interpreted liberally to include dependents who suffered loss, such as the mother-in-law who lived with the deceased. The Court rejected the split multiplier approach and awarded compensation based on the deceased's actual income (Rs. 8,87,148) plus 15% for future prospects, applying a multiplier of 11 and deducting one-fourth for personal expenses. Total compensation of Rs. 85,81,815 with 7.5% interest was awarded.
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