<b>Brief case:</b> Judges' dilemma in torts claims

A weekly selection of key court orders

Judges’ dilemma in torts claims

Evaluating human life in economic terms is a challenge faced by judges in claims of torts. This dilemma was reflected in the judgments delivered in recent weeks by the Supreme Court and the high courts. The Supreme Court enhanced the compensation for an accident victim nearly four times, rejecting the computation of loss of income adopted by the motor accident claims tribunal. In this case, Sandeep Khanuja vs Atul Dande, a 30-year-old chartered accountant lost 70 per cent of his earning capacity in a road accident. The tribunal awarded him Rs 5 lakh, the Chhattisgarh