Tribunals cannot ignore income tax returns whilst calculating compensation in accident cases, Karnataka high court

The Karnataka High Court ruled that tribunals cannot ignore Income Tax Returns (ITRs) when calculating compensation in accident cases.

The court enhanced compensation to Rs 40.54 lakh with 9% interest for the family of Shakila B Shetty, who died in a 2017 road accident.

The tribunal had initially awarded Rs 13.3 lakh, citing no PAN card and signature variations, and instead used notional income of Rs 9,000 per month.

The High Court cited the Supreme Court's Malarvizhi vs United India Insurance Company Limited case, which holds that ITRs are statutory documents that must be relied upon.