The Supreme Court on Thursday significantly enhanced the compensation awarded to a man who lost his leg in a road accident 18 years ago, directing Oriental Insurance Company to pay nearly ₹48.44 lakh with interest. The bench of Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice N.V. Anjaria allowed the appeal of claimant Anoop Maheshwari, who had challenged the earlier awards of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Background
The accident dates back to April 9, 2007, when Maheshwari, then a young graduate riding his motorbike, was struck by a rashly driven truck. He suffered a grievous injury resulting in the amputation of his leg at the hip. Though the Tribunal recognized the negligence of the truck driver and acknowledged valid insurance coverage, it pegged his disability at 45% instead of the 90% mentioned in the medical board’s certificate.
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The Tribunal awarded him ₹13.23 lakh, later increased to ₹23.09 lakh by the High Court, which raised his monthly income estimate to ₹8,000 and accepted 50% disability. However, Maheshwari pressed further, arguing that both his income tax returns and future medical needs were wrongly undervalued.
Court’s Observations
“The disability to be assessed for the purpose of awarding compensation arising from a motor accident is the functional disability which reduces the earning capacity of the claimant,” the bench observed, upholding the 50% functional disability fixed by the High Court. The court, however, found fault with the arbitrary rejection of Maheshwari’s income tax records by the Tribunal. It accepted his 2007–08 return, fixing his annual income at ₹1,91,000.
On medical expenses, the judges were categorical. They noted that vouchers amounting to ₹12.54 lakh had been produced and saw no reason to curtail them. “The entire medical expenses claimed… has to be paid,” the order stated. The bench also restored sums ignored by the High Court, such as ₹1 lakh for attendant expenses and ₹4.7 lakh for prosthetic limb purchase.
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Recognising the recurring cost of prosthetic replacements and maintenance, the court provided an additional ₹10 lakh under future medical expenses, though it rejected a 40% enhancement for future income prospects.
Decision
In the final reckoning, the Supreme Court enhanced the compensation to ₹48,44,790 with 6% annual interest from the date of the application. The insurance company has been directed to transfer the balance compensation within three months after adjusting sums already paid. With this, Maheshwari’s nearly two-decade-long legal battle for “just compensation” has reached closure.
Case Title: Anoop Maheshwari vs. Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. & Ors.
Case Type: Civil Appeal Nos. 12098–12099 of 2024
Date of Judgment: September 4, 2025
