Govt employee's family to get Rs 25 lakh compensation

The family of a government employee, who was fatally injured when a rashly driven car rammed into his scooter, has been awarded compensation of over Rs 25 lakh by a motor accident claims tribunal (MACT).
The tribunal directed United India Insurance Company Ltd, with which the offending car was insured, to pay Rs 25,93,898 to the family members of 57-year-old victim Satish Kumar Gupta, who was working as a Superintendent Engineer with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
The tribunal held the owner-cum-driver of the car guilty of rashly and negligently driving the vehicle due to which the accident took place.

"Thus in view of documents on record and deposition of witnesses, the petitioners (Satish's family members) have been able to prima facie prove that Satish Babu Gupta expired on account of injuries sustained in the accident caused by the car being driven by Sachin Gupta in rash and negligent manner," MACT Presiding Officer Harish Dudani said.
Satish's family members approached the tribunal seeking compensation and submitted that the accident took place on July 17, 2005 when Satish was riding his scooter. On reaching Chanakyapuri, the offending car hit the victim's two wheeler from behind.
As a result Satish's scooter rammed into an auto rickshaw due to which he fell down and sustained injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital here where he succumbed ,during course of treatment in October, 2005.

Satish's family told the tribunal that he was earning Rs 49,000 per month.

Car owner Sachin Gupta, who was also driving the vehicle at the time of the accident, claimed before the tribunal that no accident took place on July 17, 2005 due to his rash and negligent driving.
He also claimed that Satish was speeding and was also not wearing a helmet and the accident had taken place with the auto rickshaw.
The tribunal, however, rejected the car owner's submissions.