Assessing Functional Disability and Lifetime Prosthetic Costs for Skilled Workers
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Case: SHANKAR DUTT v. UNITED INDIA INSURANCE CO. LTD.
Court: Supreme Court of India
Date: 24-06-2026
Law: Motor Vehicles Act, Law of Tort.
Highlights of the Judgment:
- Conceptual distinction between medically certified physical disability and functional disability affecting earning capacity.
- Classification of carpentry as skilled artisan work for determining fair notional income.
- Application of the multiplier method and future prospects under the Motor Vehicles Act.
- Pecuniary compensation guidelines for lifetime cost, maintenance, and periodic replacement of prosthetic limbs.
- Analysis of the restorative principle to return the injured victim to their pre-accident position.
- Evaluation of non-pecuniary damages including pain, suffering, and loss of amenities for permanent disablement.