MACT awards Rs15L relief to girl’s parents

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 22

The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) has awarded a compensation of Rs 15 lakh to the parents of a girl who died in a road mishap.

In a claim application, the victim Parul’s mother Sangeeta and father Mukesh Kumar, residents of Bagakheri village in Saharanpur district, had stated that on April 4, 2016, she was going from Shazadpur towards Barwala while riding pillion on an Activa scooter being driven by Deepak. At 4 pm, when they reached near Kakarmajra, a speeding car (HR-01-AA-2531) being driven on wrong side collided head-on with the scooter.

The car driver and owner, Aman Kumar, left the vehicle at the spot and ran away.

Parul and Deepak received serious injuries in the accident and were taken to a hospital where doctors referred them to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Parul succumbed to her injuries on April 11, 2016.

The applicants claimed that on the date of the accident and death, Parul was 19 years old. She was a student of BSc Radiology second year at PGI, Chandigarh, and her future monthly income could be assessed at Rs 40,000. Hence, a compensation to the tune of Rs 40 lakh was claimed.

But, it could not be concluded on the available evidence that she would have earned a sum of Rs 40,000 per month.

The tribunal considered notional income of Parul at Rs 9,000 per month, which comes to Rs 1,08,000 per annum.

Her date of birth was June 4, 1997 and there should be an addition of 40 per cent of her annual income on account of future prospects.

The tribunal awarded a compensation of Rs 15,11,484 to be shared by the claimants equally.

The liability to pay the compensation would be joint and several of the owner-cum-driver of the offending vehicle and the insurance company, the tribunal ordered.

Kin sought Rs 40L

• The victim Parul’s parents claimed that on the date of the accident and death, their daughter was 19 years old. She was a student of BSc Radiology second year at PGI, Chandigarh, and her future monthly income could be assessed at Rs 40,000. Hence, a compensation of Rs 40 lakh was claimed. 
• However, the tribunal considered Parul's notional income as Rs 9,000 per month, which comes to Rs 1,08,000 per annum. Her date of birth was June 4, 1997 and there should be an addition of 40 per cent of her annual income on account of future prospects.
• The tribunal hence awarded a compensation of Rs 15,11,484 to be shared by the claimants equally.