Case Name / Appeal: Civil Appeal No. ___ of 2026 (arising out of SLP (C) No.6383 of 2026)
Court / Authority: Supreme Court of India, Civil Appellate Jurisdiction
Date of Order: 13 May 2026 (digitally signed 30 May 2026)
Period of Incident / Dispute: Motor accident on 11 March 1999; subsequent claims filed in 1999‑2000.
Parties Involved
Appellants: Smt. Shyam Kali (widow of the deceased) and others (referred to as Anr.)
Respondents: Vikas Veer Rastogi & Ors.
Insurer / Respondent No. 2: United India Insurance Company (liability for compensation)
Deceased: Ram Kishore, aged about 35 years, died in the accident.
Judges: Justice Sanjay Karol, Justice Vipul M. Pancholi
Issues / Allegations / Violations
Determination of appropriate compensation for the death of Ram Kishore and his dependants.
Whether United India Insurance Company should bear the liability for the award.
Calculation of interest on the awarded amount.
Distribution of compensation among the widow (Smt. Shyam Kali) and daughters (Km. Suman and Km. Sunita).
Findings & Observations
The Supreme Court observed that, in the interest of justice, the compensation awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and subsequently enhanced by the Allahabad High Court warranted further enhancement.
The Court affirmed that the insurer remains liable for the entire award.
Penalties / Settlements / Directions
Additional Compensation: An extra lump‑sum of ₹2,00,000 (Rupees Two Lakhs only) is awarded over and above the High Court’s award.
Total Compensation: The cumulative compensation payable to the claimants becomes ₹6,00,000 (₹4,00,000 as per High Court + ₹2,00,000 additional).
Interest: The High Court’s interest terms remain – 9% from filing of the claim petition till award and 6% thereafter till deposit.
Liability: United India Insurance Company is directed to pay the entire amount.
Payment Mechanism: Amount to be directly remitted into the bank accounts of the claimants; account details to be supplied by the appellants’ counsel to the respondent’s counsel.
Timeframe: Payment to be made within eight weeks from the date of this order.
Costs: Each party shall bear its own costs.
Corrective Actions & Future Obligations
The claimants’ minor shares are to be deposited in a fixed‑deposit scheme in a nationalised bank until the date of their marriage, as per the original tribunal order.
United India Insurance Company must comply with the remittance directive and provide any required documentation.
Final Ruling & Enforcement
The appeal is allowed in part.
The High Court judgment dated 23 July 2019 (FAFO No. 2899 of 2004) is modified to incorporate the additional ₹2,00,000.
The Supreme Court order is enforceable immediately; failure to comply may attract contempt proceedings.
