SC directs state govs and union territories on accident claims
New Delhi, July 12 (UNI) The Supreme Court has directed all states and union territories to instruct all police officers concerned to comply with the requirement of sending reports to the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal within 30 days for speedy disposal of the claims in accident cases.
A Bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice P P Naolekar issued the directions on the petition of General Insurance Council and other insurance companies seeking direction to the police authorities to comply with the mandatory provision of section 158 (6) of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
The section mandates that the police officers concerned must forward to Claims Tribunal having juridiction about the death or body injury to any person so recorded in the police station. A police officer must send a copy thereof to the insurance company concerned and the owner of offending vehicle.
The owner of the vehicle is obliged to forward the report to the Claims Tribunal and the insurer.
The petitioners had contended that millions of cases are pending in Claims Tribunal due to non-compliance with the section. The compliance with the section will expedite the disposal of the accident claim.
The
apex
court
directed
"periodical
checking
shall
be
done
by
the
IG
of
police
concerned
to
ensure
that
the
requirements
are
being
complied
with.
In
case
there
is
non-compliance,
appropriate
action
will
be
taken
against
the
errant
official.
The
department
of
transport
and
highway
shall
make
periodical
verification
to
ensure
that
action
is
being
taken
and
in
case
of
any
deviation
immediately
bring
the
same
to
the
notice
of
the
state
government/union
territory
concerned
so
that
necessary
action
can
be
taken
against
the
official
concerned." UNI