Parents of accident victim get over Rs 9 lakh compensation

Parents of a 19-year-old youth, who died in a road accident involving a rashly driven auto rickshaw, have been awarded a compensation of over Rs 9 lakh by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) here.
The tribunal directed HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Ltd, insurer of the offending vehicle, to pay Rs 9,90,036 to the parents of Shahrukh Khan, who died in June, 2009.
"In these circumstances according to the settled law on the subject as laid down...The petitioners have proved rash and negligence of driver of the offending vehicle," MACT Presiding Officer S C Malik said.
"In view of testimony Allauddin, an eyewitness of the accident, and copies of criminal record produced, no doubt is left in respect of the deceased having suffered fatal injuries in road traffic accident due to rash and negligent driving of the vehicle...By respondent no 1 (driver)," the tribunal said.

According to the petition, filed by victim's parents, Khan was going from Mohan Nagar in Ghaziabad to Anand Vihar bus terminal here in an auto rickshaw, being driven at a high speed in a rash and negligent manner.
When the auto rickshaw reached Vasundhara in Ghaziabad, due to high speed, it turned turtle. All the occupants sustained grievous injuries and two passengers including Khan died in the accident, it said.
The victim's parents had claimed a compensation of Rs 30 lakh for the death of their son saying that he was doing a private job and was earning Rs 8,000 as salary per month.

The insurer of the vehicle, through written statements, had contended that the insured vehicle was plying on the road at the time of the accident in violation of the rules of permit. The auto driver was proceeded ex-parte.