LexT.C. JOHN @ YOHANNAN (DECEASED) THROUGH LRS. versus V.J. ANTONY AND OTHERS
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[2024] 12 S.C.R. 1143 : 2024 INSC 1016 T.C. John @ Yohannan (Deceased) Through Lrs. v. V.J. Antony and Others (Civil Appeal No. 14749 of 2024) 19 December 2024 [J.K. Maheshwari and Rajesh Bindal,* JJ.] Issue for Consideration Whether the High Court was justified in denying the interest for the period between 22.06.2016 to 13.07.2023, which was the period of delay in supplying the copy of paper book to the standing counsel for the insurance company. Headnotes† Motor Vehicle Accident claim – Denial of interest – The High Court had partly accepted appeal while enhancing the compensation, however, it denied the interest for the delay of 708 days in filing appeal and interest for the period between 22.06.2016 to 13.07.2023 – Justified or not: Held: As far as assessment of compensation is concerned, the same does not call for interference by this Court – The appellants-claimants, for the period between 22.06.2016 to 13.07.2023, have been denied interest on the ground that there was delay on the part of the counsel for the appellants-claimants in not supplying the copy of the paper book to the counsel for the insurance company – Once the matter was before the Court, the appellants-claimants should not be deprived of the interest for the period between 22.06.2016 to 13.07.2023 – It cannot be said to be the fault on the part of the appellants-claimants, comparable to a fault in filing the appeal beyond the period of limitation – In the case in hand, the appeal was barred by 708 days – The High Court while condoning the same, specifically directed that the appellants-claimants will not be entitled to any interest for the aforesaid period, in case the amount of compensation is enhanced – The order is quite reasonable – The aforesaid delay in filing the appeal was attributable to the appellants-claimants, hence, they will * Author 1144 [2024] 12 S.C.R. Supreme Court Reports not be entitled to the interest for the period of 708 days – At the same time, after having filed the appeal and during the pendency, the appellants-claimants should not be made to suffer directing for non-payment of interest, because for such default claimants alone could not be held responsible – Consequently, denial of interest to the appellants for the period between 22.06.2016 to 13.07.2023 as directed is not justified. [Paras 9, 10, 11] List of Keywords Enhancement of compensation; Interest; Condonation of delay; Denial of interest. Case Arising From CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 14749 of 2024 From the Judgment and Order dated 07.09.2023 of the High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam in MACA No. 1072 of 2015 Appearances for Parties Harshad V. Hameed, Dileep Poolakkot, Advs. for the Appellant. Ms. Mrinal Kanwar, Vaibhav, Mayank Mikhail Mukherjee, Ujjwal Singh, Advs. for the Respondents. Judgment/Order of the Supreme Court Judgment Rajesh Bindal, J. 1. Leave granted. 2. The present appeal arises out of impugned judgment1 and order dated 07.09.2023 passed by the High Court2vide which the appeal filed by the appellants-claimants was partly accepted enhancing the compensation payable to the appellants-claimants. The grievance raised by the appellants-claimants is that the High Court has denied interest to them for the period between 22.06.2016 to 13.07.2023. 1 MACA no.1072 of 2015 2 High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam [2024] 12 S.C.R. 1145 T.C. John @ Yohannan (Deceased) Through Lrs. v. V.J. Antony and Others 3. The facts as available on record in brief are that the accident took place on 07.08.2006 when the deceased was travelling in his jeep along with his wife(now widow) and children and a bus hit their jeep, resulting in death of the deceased. The appellants-claimants, consisting of deceased’s widow and three daughters, filed claim appeal3 before the Tribunal4 seeking compensation of ₹15,00,000/-. The Tribunal passed an award of ₹4,15,000/- along with interest @ 7.5% per annum in favour of the appellants-claimants, making the driver, owner and the insurance company of the bus liable to pay the same. 4. Aggrieved against the award dated 18.11.2011 passed by the Tribunal, the appellants-claimants filed appeal before the High Court. There was a delay of 708 days in filing the appeal. The same was condoned vide order dated 24.08.2023 with the condition that on the enhanced compensation, if allowed, the appellants-claimants will not be entitled to claim interest for the period of delay
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