How To Apply Rate Of Conversion In Compensation Claim With Respect To Earnings In Foreign Currency? SC Explains [Read Judgment]

In a case related to compensation arising out of the 2010 Mangalore flight crash, the Supreme Court had occasion to consider principles of conversion of claim into Indian currency from foreign currency.

The claim in the case Triveni Kodkany and others vs Air India Ltd, was pertaining to the death of one Mahendra Kodkany, an expat who earned in Arab Emirates Dirham (AED).

The claim was made by the widow and children of deceased Mahendra Kodkany before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Indian Rupees, adopting a conversion rate of Rs 12.50 per AED.

Dissatisfied with the compensation awarded by the NCDRC, they appealed to the SC, on various grounds.

One of the grounds was that the NCDRC should have applied the rate of conversion which was prevailing as on the date of judgment, and not as on the date of claim.

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Before the SC, petitioner's counsel Advocate Yeshwanth Shenoy had relied upon the decisions Forasol v. ONGC 1984 Supp SCC 263, Renusagar Power Co. Ltd. v. General Co. Ltd 1994 Supp (1) SCC 644, United India Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Kantika Colour Lab (2010) 6 SCC 449 and Balaram Prasad v. Kunal Saha (2014) 1 SCC 384.
 

The petitioner pointed out that in these cases, the Courts had applied the rate of conversion as applicable on the date of judgment.

However, the bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Ajay Rastogi noted that the facts of the instant case were distinguishable from the judgments which had been cited. The bench applied the rate of conversion as stated in the complaint - Rs 12.50 per AED.

The nature of the claim by the party attains significance, observed the bench. 

In Forasol, a major part of the claim for payment was in French Francs. The Court further took note of the fact that the party entitled to receive the payment was a foreign party. After consideration of the English authorities on the matter, it was held that the date for conversion should be the date of the judgment.

In Renusagar, a contract was executed between a company incorporated in India and a company incorporated in the US. Under the terms of the contract, the amount to be paid was expressed in US dollar. The Court noted that both, the "money of account" and "money of payment" were in terms of US dollars.

"Both in Forasol and Renusagar, the recipients of payments were foreign parties. Moreover, the terms of contract entered into by the parties stipulated that the payments were to be made in terms of foreign currency", the bench observed.

In Kantika Colour Lab, the Respondent had obtained an insurance policy to cover the risk of transit of a film processor and printer processor from Mumbai to Haridwar. The printer suffered extensive damage during transit and the Respondent sought damages from the insurer. After coming to the conclusion that the printer could not be repaired, the Court was to determine the cost of replacement. In determining it, a two judge Bench held that the cost should be ascertained as the cost of replacement along with the customs duty  component at the rupee equivalent of the exchange rate prevalent on the date of judgment. 

In Balaram Prasad, the Court had to determine the compensation to be awarded to the husband of the deceased as a result of the death of his wife due to medical negligence in India. The claimant as well as the deceased were non-resident Indians. The two judge Bench of this Court accepted the plea of the claimant that the value of the rupee had depreciated since the commencement of legal proceedings and in computing the compensation, regarded the current value of the rupee of a stable rate of Rs 55 per USD. 

Distinguishing these judgments, the Court observed :

"The facts in the context of which the above judgments were rendered are distinguishable from the present case. The money is not being repatriated abroad. The claimants are Indian residents. The complaint contains a claim for payment in Indian Rupees. They would be receiving the payment in Indian rupees. Moreover, we are allowing the claim for interest in terms of the decision of the NCDRC". 

Ultimately, the bench awarded a compensation of Rs 7,64,29,437. A separate report on the other principles of compensation discussed in the judgment may be read here.

Case Details

Title  : Triveni Kodkany and others vs Air India Ltd

Case No : Civil Appeal No 2914 of 2019

Coram    : Justices D Y Chandrachud and Ajay Rastogi

Appearances : Advocate Yeshwant Shenoy for complainants, Advocate Jatinder Kumar Sethi for Air India

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