New Delhi: The wife and children of a rickshaw puller, who died in a road accident after being hit by a rashly-driven truck, have been awarded a compensation of over Rs 7 lakh by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) here. MACT Presiding Officer Manish Gupta asked the National Insurance Company Ltd, insurer of the offending truck, to pay Rs 7,52,748 to the wife and five children of Uttar Pradesh resident Subhash Prajapati, who died in the accident in June 2007 at the age of 47.
“In view of evidence discussed it is clear that accident in question occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the offending vehicle by its driver on the relevant date, place and time due to which deceased Subhash Prajapati sustained injuries and expired,” the tribunal said. According to the family’s petition, on June 7, 2007 Prajapati was going on his rickshaw when a truck being driven in a rash and negligent manner hit him between Bhalaswa Chowk and Mukarba Chowk bypass.
Due to the impact, he fell down on the road and received grievous injuries and was immediately rushed to Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital, where during the course of his treatment, he succumbed to injuries. His family members had approached the tribunal claiming acompensation of Rs 10 lakh. Prajapati was earning around Rs4,000 per month. During the proceedings, the owner of the truck claimed that the offending vehicle was being driven at a very slow speed and it was Prajapati’s rickshaw which suddenly turned and hit the truck.
The driver of the truck did not file any reply and was proceeded ex-parte.
