V. Mekala vs M. Malathi & Anr

The Supreme Court held that the High Court erred in determining the monthly notional income of the deceased at ₹6,000 instead of ₹18,000, failing to consider the claimant's age, academic performance, and potential future earnings. The Court emphasized that under the precedent set in Santosh Devi v. National Insurance Company Ltd., future prospects should account for a 50% increase in income due to the claimant's permanent disability. The Court enhanced the compensation awarded, recognizing the significant impact of the accident on the claimant's earning capacity and quality of life.