MACT orders Rs 5.56 cr relief to NRI’s family

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 2

Giving a major relief in a road accident case, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Mohali, today awarded a compensation of Rs 5.56 crore to the family of an NRI, who was killed in a road accident.

The court also held that the family of the victim, Mandeep Singh, who was based in the US, be given the amount along with an interest of 6 per cent per annum from the date of the claims petition till its realisation.

The claimants in the case included victim’s father Dajit Singh, mother Parminder Kaur, both residents of Phase X, wife Suresh Inderejit Kaur and son Mansundar Singh, both of whom live in the US.

“Of the compensation amount, Rs 5 crore is to be distributed among the victim’s wife and son in equal share while the parents will get Rs 56.55 lakh in equal share,” said Gurpreet Singh, counsel for the claimants in the case.

Mandeep Singh (48) was killed during his journey on an Indo-Canadian bus (PB 01 6022) from the Delhi airport to Punjab when the bus fell into the SYL Canal near Surindra Pipe Factory on the Sambhu-Rajpura road on October 16, 2009. The victim was a chartered accountant and had set up his own office in the US. “Mandeep Singh was earning Rs 66 lakh per annum then on the basis of which the compensation amount has been assessed,” said Gurpreet Singh.

Six persons, including the driver and the conductor, were on board the bus when the mishap took place. The driver was reportedly driving rashly due to which he lost control over the bus, resulting in the accident. A case in this regard was registered at the Sadar police station in Rajpura, Punjab.

A case was filed in the court against Hardev Singh, the bus driver, M/s Indo Canadian Transport Company and ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company on April 1, 2010.