In Brief
A 45-year-old housewife, Smt. Tarawati, was killed in a truck accident in 2003. Her family claimed Rs.15 lakhs compensation. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.4.31 lakhs, and the High Court enhanced it to Rs.5.96 lakhs. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and significantly increased compensation to Rs.13.82 lakhs. The Court recalculated monthly income at Rs.7,000/- (combining family pension and notional housewife income), applied a multiplier of 14 (not 9), awarded 25% for loss of future prospects, and granted Rs.2.40 lakhs for loss of love and affection for five claimants, plus Rs.20,000 for funeral expenses and Rs.20,000 as loss of estate, with 7.5% interest from the date of claim filing.
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