MACT Urges Road Ministry Action on Underserved Accident Victims

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in New Delhi identifies a significant policy gap in compensating families of uninsured accident victims. The Tribunal has requested assistance from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to find solutions for cases where both the offending driver and the cyclist have died.

In a landmark observation, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in New Delhi has pinpointed a major shortcoming in current road accident compensation policies, stressing the need for government intervention. This development follows a tragic incident where the family of a deceased cyclist was left without support due to the uninsured status of the offending vehicle.

Designating the situation as a 'policy vacuum,' the Tribunal has formally sought the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' guidance to explore state provisions for victim families in such extraordinary scenarios. Judge Abhilash Malhotra of the Patiala House Courts raised this during proceedings on interconnected claim petitions linked to a Delhi FIR.

The court highlighted the plight of Surender Kumar Ahirwar, who was killed while cycling after being hit by a car. The at-fault vehicle’s driver, Vishnu, died in the accident, leading to a double casualty. Severe financial limitations prevent those left behind, like the driver's parents, from compensating the victim’s dependents.