Delhi HC raises payout to Rs 1 crore, Rs 84 lakh for kin of two IIT-JEE rankers killed in 2017 crash

The Delhi High Court has enhanced the compensation awarded to the families of two engineering students who died in a road accident in 2017, observing that both were academically outstanding and had a strong likelihood of securing high-paying careers.

Justice Anish Dayal increased the compensation after finding that the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal had not adequately accounted for the students' future earning potential.

The case relates to the deaths of Vinay Khurana, a fourth-year engineering student at Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (now NSUT), and Prabhleen Kaur, then a third-year student. The two were travelling with a mutual friend when their car allegedly crashed into a railing divider after being driven at high speed and in a rash manner.

Court factors in career prospects

The tribunal had earlier awarded ₹83.86 lakh to Khurana's family and ₹38.50 lakh to Kaur's family. The High Court enhanced the compensation to over ₹1 crore for Khurana's kin and over ₹84 lakh for Kaur's family.

In doing so, the court relied on the students' academic achievements, including their admission to one of Delhi's premier engineering colleges through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), and the employment opportunities already available to them.

For Khurana, the court noted that he had maintained a CGPA of 8.0 (72.61%) and had already received and accepted a job offer from a government company.

"There is no reason why this appointment cannot be considered as crystallising the potential income," Justice Dayal observed, adding that there was nothing to suggest he would not have joined the organisation.

Internship, academic record weighed for Kaur

In Kaur's case, the court described her as a bright student and an all-rounder. It took note of her paid internship at a pharmaceutical company, where she was earning ₹20,000 a month, while also considering what she was likely to earn after graduation.

Using Khurana's expected salary as a benchmark, the court estimated that Kaur could reasonably have earned around ₹60,000 a month in her first job.

The judge observed that there was "no reason why a proper employment would not have garnered at least ₹60,000 per month."

Interest on enhanced compensation

The High Court was hearing appeals filed by the families seeking higher compensation. Senior advocate Sumeet Verma represented both families.

While enhancing the compensation, the court clarified that the 9% annual interest awarded by the tribunal would continue to apply to the original compensation amount. However, the enhanced portion of the compensation would carry 6.75% annual interest, citing the long pendency of the matter.

(With inputs from TOI)