MACT awards over Rs. 75 lakh to road accident victims
A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has awarded over Rs. 75L as compensation to the victims of a road accident which killed a woman and injured six others. MACT presiding officer, Pawan Kumar Jain, asked New India Assurance Company Limited, insurer of the offending vehicle, to pay Rs. 75,96,482, including the interest to the victims and the next of kin of the deceased woman.
Accident occurred last year in June
On June 11, 2017, the victims were traveling in a bus to Khatushyam, Rajasthan, when it collided with a truck, injuring all petitioners. Renu Verma died by the time she was taken to the hospital. The complainants alleged the bus was being driven very fast.
MACT awarded varying compensation amounts to petitioners based on injuries
MACT heard seven pleas on behalf of victims and awarded varying compensation to those affected based on their injuries. "It (insurer) is directed to deposit Rs. 18,67,000, Rs. 5,48,000, Rs. 40,41,000, Rs. 3,29,000, Rs. 77,000, Rs. 46,000 and Rs. 92,000 with interest @9% per annum from the date of filing of claim petitions- 30.10.2017 till realization of the amount, within 30 days," it said.
MACT holds bus owner liable to pay compensation
The tribunal also said that the respondent, the owner of the bus, Yog Dutt Sharma, "shall be jointly and severally liable" to pay compensation, along with the insurance company, to the petitioners. The tribunal awarded Rs. 20,26,091, including interest to Dinesh Kumar Verma and Manish Verma, the husband and son of Delhi resident Renu Verma, who died in the accident.
Deceased woman's son received over Rs. 40L for artificial limb
Also, Manish, whose right leg was amputated below the knee, was awarded Rs. 43,85,342 (with interest) for an artificial limb implantation while his father, Dinesh, was granted Rs. 5,94,696 for his injuries. The court also awarded the other petitioners- Manju Rani, Yogesh Sharma and minors Nevaidh Sharma and Nayasa Sharma amounts ranging between Rs. 46,000 to Rs. 3.29 lakh based on their injuries.
Accident didn't occur in MACT's jurisdiction
The Delhi tribunal noted that though the accident had not taken place within its jurisdiction, yet the claims have been filed before it as all the petitioners and the respondent (bus owner) are residing in Delhi and the insurance company is also based in Delhi.
