PUNISHMENT FOR ROGUE DRIVER : Kin of pedestrian mowed down by biker awarded Rs 13 lakh

In a two-year-old case, a city Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) has awarded a compensation of Rs 13 lakh to the family of a pedestrian who was mowed down by a speeding motorbike while he was crossing the road in the Kashmere Gate area.

MACT presiding officer Dilbagh Singh, in a recent order asked the insurance company to pay a compensation of Rs 13 lakh to Ashok Kumar Dagar’s wife, Sharmila, daughter and son. In its order, the court said: ‘‘I am of the opinion that 40-year-old Ashok Kumar Dagar died in the roadside accident due to rash and negligent driving of a motorbike owner, which had hit him.’’

According to the petition filed by Sharmila, on June 9, 2006, her husband, working as an office assistant in west Delhi, was crossing the road at ISBT when a rashly driven motorcycle mowed him down. The biker has been identified as one Zuber Alam. As a result of the accident the 40-year-old victim sustained multiple injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries after three days.

Sharmila then filed another petition on July 5, 2006, seeking a compensation of Rs 50 lakh from the insurance company for the offending vehicle.

The victim’s wife, said in her petition that the family could not recover from the trauma,
mental agony and financial loss due to her husband’s death.

‘‘The insurance company, is required to pay a total compensation of Rs 13 lakh to the family,’’ the court said. The court also directed the insurance company to make the payment within a period of 30 days.

The court directed the NIC to pay a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to Sharmila and Rs 4.5 lakh each to her daughter Renu and son Khushal Singh along with an interest of 7% from the date of filing the petition till the tribunal’s order.

The Times of India 2 April 2008, P 7 Delhi

With thanks from The Time of India
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