New Delhi: A senior citizen, who has been in coma since he met with a road accident here over two-and-a- half years ago, has been awarded a compensation of nearly Rs 59 lakhs by a tribunal.
Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) awarded the damages to 61-year-old Model Town resident Partap Sain Katyal, noting that the victim continued to be comatose since his accident in May 2009 and there is bleak chances of his recovery. MACT Judge Dinesh Bhat ordered payment of compensation on his wife Sharda Katyal`s plea for it. Holding the driver and owner of the offending car Amit Gupta guilty of causing the accident, the MACT directed the National Insurance Company, with which the vehicle was insured, to pay Rs 58,20,785 to Katyal.
"In view of the statements and documents available on record, it is prima facie proved that petitioner (victim) suffered injuries due to rash and negligent driving of the car driver," the MACT said. The court awarded the compensation, noting the deposition by the victim`s wife that she has already spent over Rs 20 lakhs for her husband`s treatment.
She had demanded Rs 59 lakh as compensation, saying her husband, who ran a partnership business firm, earned Rs 50,000 a month, while she was likely to incur an expanse of Rs 1 lakh per month on his treatment in future. PTI