Chandigarh, Sept 23 — Nearly seven years after a Zirakpur road accident left a 23-year-old biker permanently disabled, the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) has directed compensation of ₹6.47 lakh to the victim.
The tribunal, presided over by Ashwani Kumar, held that Rahul, a resident of Sector 20, Panchkula, had successfully established that the crash occurred due to the negligence of the van driver. “The claimant has proved that the accident in question took place due to negligence of the driver of the offending vehicle and caused grievous injury to him. So the claimant has every right to file and maintain the instant claim petition,” the tribunal noted.
According to the petition, Rahul was riding home on his motorcycle on December 21, 2018, around 9 p.m., with two pillion riders. When they reached Old Police Station Road near Gold Marka in Zirakpur, a Punjab-registered van, driven on the wrong side at high speed, collided with their motorcycle. The impact threw all three riders onto the road. They were rushed to PGIMER, Chandigarh, by the driver, identified as Sunil Kumar of Saketri, Panchkula, who fled afterward.
An FIR was filed two days later at Zirakpur police station under Sections 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life), and 427 (mischief) of the Indian Penal Code. Rahul suffered multiple fractures below the right knee, a head injury, and the amputation of one toe on his right foot, leaving him unable to work.
While Sunil Kumar and van owner Pardeep Kumar denied involvement, alleging a false FIR, the tribunal observed that neither they nor the insurance company produced any witnesses to rebut the claimant’s case. “The driver didn’t appear in the witness box to disprove his implication,” the tribunal recorded.
The insurance company had also argued that Rahul lacked a valid licence, while the driver did not possess proper registration, permit, or fitness certificate for the vehicle. The tribunal, however, concluded that liability rested jointly on the driver, the vehicle owner, and the insurer.
The compensation amount of ₹6,47,932 was determined based on Rahul’s age and earnings at the time of the accident.
