Insurance company, car owner , driver told to pay Rs 18.50 lakh compensation

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Chandigarh, has directed an insurance company, driver and owner of a car to pay compensation of Rs 18.50 lakh to parents of a 23-year-old student Kapil, who died in an accident six years ago.

The claim petition has been filed by claimants Yashpal Sharma and Neelam, father and mother of Kapil, under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act for compensation. The claimants, both residents of Pathankot district, said on May 1, 2018, their son was going from Jammu to Pathankot in a car. On the way, when he reached Swankha Mor near Vijaypur police station, his car collided with a wrongly parked tractor-trailer. They alleged that the car was being driven by the driver in a rash and negligent manner.

After the accident their son was taken to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, where he was declared brought dead. An FIR under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC was registered against the driver with regard to the accident.

The claimants said their son was a student of A&M Group of Institutes of BCA. The claimants claimed compensation of Rs 50 lakh along with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum from the date of accident till realisation.

On the other hand, the driver and the owner of the car denied the allegations.

After hearing the arguments, the tribunal observed that in view of the facts the claimants were entitled to receiving compensation of Rs 18.50 lakh.