Kin of road mishap victim gets over Rs 18 lakh compensation

The family members of a 30-year-old man, who died after being hit by a rashly driven motorcycle, have been awarded a compensation of over Rs 18 lakh by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) here.
The tribunal directed ICICI Lombard Insurance Company, with which the offending motorcycle was insured, to pay Rs 18,63,191 to the family of Rakesh Rustam Singh, who was killed after the speeding bike hit him on Mathura Road while he was on his way to home on August 10, 2011.
"A young man, father of two children and bread winner for family, including his widowed mother, lost his life in the unfortunate accident. No amount can fill the void but life has to move on," MACT Presiding Officer Nikhil Chopra said, awarding the compensation.

The tribunal also noted that neither there was any cross examination by the driver nor did he appear in court, hence, "it can safely be assumed that the accident was caused by the rashness and neglect of the driver of the offending vehicle."
On December 5, 2012, an interim award of Rs 50,000 was passed in favour of petitioner Sarvesh, Singh's wife, the tribunal noted, adding that it would be deducted from the total amount.
According to the petition, the victim was on his way to home on a bike on August 10, 2011 when another motorcycle, being driven rashly and negligently by Rais Khan, hit him.

Due to the impact, Singh, a resident of north-west Delhi's Jahangir Puri, fell down and was injured. He was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre where he died two days later, it said.

Sarvesh told the tribunal that Singh was working as a cashier in a private firm on a salary of Rs 12,000 per month and was the sole bread earner of the family which includes the petitioner, her two sons and Singh's widowed mother.
She had claimed a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the untimely death of her husband.
In their written reply, the respondents (driver, owner and insurer) had denied the charges, saying negligence was on the part of the victim. However, their contention was rejected by the tribunal.