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S. Shakul Hameed v. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Limited

Not available · 2026 INSC 29Decided 6 Jan 2026
Not available
Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah · Justice K. Vinod Chandran

Background

A vendor injured in a motor accident was awarded compensation based on a low statutory-schedule income figure and, later, a reduced disability assessment the insurer never even appealed.

Decision Breakdown

The Supreme Court held the claim was really a fault-based Section 166 claim (not restricted to the statutory schedule), fixed a reasonable notional income, applied the correct multiplier and future-prospects enhancement, and restored the original 50% disability finding since the insurer never appealed its reduction.

Lesson Learnt

Courts look at the real substance of a claim, not just the section cited on the form; an appellate court cannot reduce a finding in a claimant's favour that the other side never even appealed.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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