Inordinate delay up to an average two years in the disposal of accident claims cases under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, is found to have denied timely help to the victims’ families in 90 per cent instances.
Though there are several agencies involved in this process, the courts have found that the main problem lay with the delayed submission of the first information report, filled-in form 54 and other related documents.
“This has to be sorted out at the earliest. There are orders from the Supreme Court seeking submission of these documents soon after the occurrence of an accident to facilitate speedier justice,” said District Judge Ch. K. Durga Rao, who is also the Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA).
In most instances, the awards of compensation to the victims and to their family members are given several years after the accident following which they are not eventually getting true help.
Speaking to The Hindu , Judge Durga Rao further said that the motor accident cases cannot be conducted as regular civil suits and that all the agencies concerned should help in reaching full compensation to the victims, especially the uneducated and ignorant persons.
About 50 cases, which were settled at the mega Lok Adalat held at the district courts complex on Saturday morning, were those relating to the motor accident claims cases. The overall claim amount involved was nearly Rs. 1 crore.
“These cases were pertaining to accidents which took place over the past five to six years. Some recent cases were also there but the main problem was about the delayed cases where the victims’ families were deprived of the benefit of compensation,” said Judge Durga Rao.
The National Legal Services Authority has observed today as the day of addressing the motor claims cases all over the country.
