Kin of Delhi Police head constable gets Rs 15L compensation

New Delhi: The family members of a Delhi Police head constable, who died in a road accident involving a rashly driven autorickshaw he was travelling in, have been awarded a compensation of over Rs 15 lakh by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) here.

The tribunal directed the auto rickshaw owner and driver to pay Rs 15,02,825 to the wife and two sons of 57-year-old Krishna Gupta, who died in the accident in September 2010. "Though no eyewitness has been examined, in view of the criminal case record, it is proved that Kishan Gupta sustained fatal injuries in the accident which occurred on September 7, 2010 due to rash and negligent driving of offending vehicle driven by its driver," MACT Presiding Officer Kiran Bansal said. "It is stated that respondent no. 1 is driver of the offending vehicle and respondent no. 2 is the registered owner. Hence, I am of the opinion that respondent no. 1 being driver and respondent no. 2 being registered owner are liable to pay the amount," the presiding officer said. Gupta`s wife, resident of north east Delhi, said that the accident took place on the night of September 7, 2010 when the victim was going home in Sonia Vihar area in an auto. When he reached Usmanpur, the speeding auto, being rashly and negligently driven by Ram Nath, hit an MCD toilet due to which Gupta sustained grievous injuries and he was taken to GTB Hospital. Gupta succumbed to the injuries the next day of the accident and a criminal case was also registered against the auto driver. His wife said that Gupta was a government employee and was working as a head constable with Delhi Police and was earning Rs 30,000 per month. The auto driver and owner, in their written statements, claimed that no accident took place due to negligence of the driver or with the vehicle. The offending vehicle was stated to be not insured. The court, however, refused to accept their contention.