Medical Boards be convened two times in a week: HC

Madras High Court today made it clear that the Medical Boards in Tamil Nadu should be convened at least two times a week and disability certificates be issued to claimants within four weeks from the date of receipt of reference from Tribunals without fail.
The Division Bench Comprising Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice S Vaidyanathan which clarified the quarries raised by Law Association as well as Principal District Judge, Villupuram District with regard to the judgments delivered by the earlier division bench prescribing some guidelines on the awards of compensation to the motor vehicle accident claimants in its order said "the data received from the two sources reveals that there is a wide variation in the number of references made by the Tribunals to various Medical Boards.

"Having regard to the fact that there is obviously a low rate disposal by the concerned Medical Boards, which, to our mind, is a cause for concern and could lead to a situation, where the remedy envisaged by this court, (because of clogging in the adjudication of claims made), may become worse than the malady Medical Boards will convene at least two times a week", the court said.
The disability certificates will be issued without fail within four weeks from the date of receipt of reference from the Tribunals. Complicated cases will be referred to the nearest hospital having multi-speciality facility. The Medical Board, while referring the matter, will articulate the area of concern. The reference will be accompanied with all relevant papers, the court said.

The Law Association, comprising advocates practicing motor accidents cases had submitted that the Medical Boards were not functioning properly.