Road Accident Scheme Gaps: Tribunal Flags Need for Reforms

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in Delhi highlighted a notable gap in road accident compensation policies when a cyclist’s family was left without support following an accident with an uninsured vehicle. The Ministry of Road Transport is urged to evaluate current schemes to offer relief in extraordinary cases.

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in New Delhi has identified a critical deficiency in existing road accident compensation policies. This observation arose after the family of a deceased cyclist was left unsupported, following an accident with an uninsured vehicle, whose driver also perished.

Recognizing a 'policy vacuum,' the Tribunal has engaged the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to explore possible relief options for victims' families in such rare situations. An order from January 31 by Judge Abhilash Malhotra pointed out the inadequacy of current compensation mechanisms in the context of connected claim petitions filed after an FIR at PS South Campus, Delhi.

Addressing the incident involving the deceased cyclist, Surender Kumar Ahirwar, and the driver, Vishnu, the Tribunal noted that substantial compensation was unlikely due to the uninsured status of the vehicle and the lack of attachable assets from the deceased driver's side. Consequently, the Ministry has been tasked with reviewing current compensatory or welfare programs to potentially extend aid to affected families, with the next hearing scheduled for February 27.

(With inputs from agencies.)