MACT awards nearly Rs 1 cr to man in vegetative state after mishap

A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has awarded nearly Rs 1 crore to a 19-year-old man who suffered serious injuries in a road mishap leaving him in a "persistent vegetative state".

MACT Presiding Officer Amit Bansal asked United India Insurance Company Limited, the insurer of the offending vehicle, to pay Rs 97,68,000 to the family of New Delhi resident Jagjot Singh, the victim.

"It is pertinent to note that the petitioner (Singh) since the date of accident is in persistent vegetative state with Ryles Tube feeding which is also mentioned in the medical certificate dated April 4, 2018 of RML hospital," the court said.

According to the complaint, Singh was injured in an accident while riding his motorcycle near Azadpur flyover in 2012.

The plea claimed that when he reached the flyover, an auto delivery van driven at a high speed and in a rash and negligent manner came from wrong side and hit his motorcycle.

It was further alleged that the driver of the offending vehicle fled from the spot after the accident.

"In the case in hand, the United India Insurance Company has not been able to show anything on record that the driver cum owner of the offending vehicle was not having any valid driving licence to drive the offending vehicle or that the permit of offending vehicle was not valid and as per settled law.

"Since the offending vehicle was duly insured with the insurance company, hence it is liable to pay the entire compensation amount to the petitioner as per law," the MACT said.

The court noted that Singh had suffered head injuries with 100 per cent disability as per his disability certificate of RML hospital and the petitioner was in permanent vegetative state (coma) and that the disability was permanent and not likely to improve.

The driver of the offending vehicle claimed that accident had occurred due to negligence on the part of Singh and he was not at fault.

However, the tribunal, after examining witnesses and evaluating the medical documents, asked the insurer of the offending vehicle to pay the compensation.