Allahabad High Court Delivers Justice After 10-Year Legal Battle
A man who lost his leg in a devastating truck accident at just sixteen years old has finally received substantial relief from the Allahabad High Court. The court tripled his compensation amount to Rs 16.59 lakh, marking the end of a grueling decade-long legal fight against an insurance company.
The Accident That Changed Everything
On March 29, 2009, a sixteen-year-old boy working as a truck helper in Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh, suffered life-altering injuries. A truck hit him, crushing his right leg so severely that doctors had to amputate it from the knee. Two little toes on his left foot also required amputation. The young victim's world turned upside down in an instant.
Medical authorities initially declared he had suffered 60% permanent disability. However, another assessment from a Bombay hospital suggested the disability was actually 80%. This discrepancy became central to the legal battle that followed.
A Decade of Legal Struggle
For ten long years, the now 32-year-old man pursued justice through India's legal system. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal initially awarded him Rs 5.03 lakh in 2015, but he believed this amount was grossly inadequate for someone who had lost his leg and livelihood.
The insurance company, New India Insurance Company Ltd, fought hard against increasing the compensation. Their lawyers argued the man was only 16 at the time of the accident and not formally employed. They contested the disability percentage and challenged the validity of medical certificates presented in court.
Court's Groundbreaking Decision
Justice Sandeep Jain delivered a powerful verdict on January 8 that changed everything. The High Court completely rejected the insurance company's arguments and took a compassionate, realistic view of the situation.
The court made several crucial observations:
- The amputation meant the man could no longer perform any physical labor, constituting 100% functional disability
- Even though he was young and not formally employed, he should be considered a "skilled workman" entitled to compensation based on minimum wages
- The original compensation for pain, suffering, and other non-pecuniary damages was "grossly inadequate"
- The man deserved compensation for loss of marriage prospects due to his permanent disability
Breaking Down the Enhanced Compensation
The High Court meticulously calculated the new compensation amount:
- Future loss due to 100% disability: Rs 14.58 lakh
- Pain and suffering: Enhanced substantially from the original Rs 15,000
- Loss of amenities: Rs 1 lakh
- Loss of marriage prospects: Rs 50,000
The total compensation now stands at Rs 16,59,510, plus 7% annual interest from the date the claim was originally filed. The insurance company must pay this entire amount.
What This Means for Accident Victims
This landmark judgment sends a strong message about how courts should assess disability in accident cases. The Allahabad High Court emphasized that functional disability matters more than just medical percentages. When someone loses the ability to earn a livelihood, that represents complete functional disability regardless of what medical certificates might indicate.
The court also established that young victims without formal employment records still deserve fair compensation based on their potential earning capacity. This precedent could help countless other accident victims fighting for justice against powerful insurance companies.
After suffering unimaginable trauma as a teenager and fighting for justice throughout his twenties, this man can finally receive the compensation he deserves. The Allahabad High Court's decision not only provides him financial relief but also validates his decade-long struggle for justice.
