Clear motor accident claim cases in a year: HC

The Madras High Court in a circular has directed courts dealing with motor accident compensation claims to dispose them off within 12 months.
Whenever a case pertaining to such claims is taken up, it should be disposed of within the stipulated time frame, the registrar general of the Madras High Court said in a circular to courts.
Referring to an order of the high court last year in a Civil Miscellaneous Appeal in this regard, the registrar general said once a claim was taken up for hearing it should not be adjourned beyond three working days at any point of time.

Citing the ruling, the registrar general further said, "Pendency of motor vehicle accident cases for years together will cause prejudice to...claimants."
Also, when the cases were disposed of expeditiously, the insurance company should not be asked to pay compensation to the claimants through their nose.
In many cases, the interest component alone, in such claim matters, ran to several lakhs on account of the pendency of for years together before the trial court and high court, the circular said.