New Delhi, Jun 20 A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal here has awarded Rs 22.91 lakh compensation to the family of a 54-year-old cyclist who died in a road accident in December 2024.
Presiding Officer Anurag Dass was hearing the claim petition filed by the family of Sushil Kumar, who died after his bicycle was hit by a motorcycle near Chanchal Park in west Delhi's Ranhola on December 18, 2024.
In its order dated June 9, the tribunal said, "It is held that the petitioners have been able to prove on the scale of preponderance of probabilities that deceased Sushil Kumar sustained fatal injuries in the road accident due to rash and negligent driving of the offending vehicle by the respondent no. 1 (driver Rajiv)."
According to the prosecution, Kumar suffered grievous injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead. A criminal case was subsequently registered against the motorcycle rider.
Relying on the testimony of an eyewitness, police records, FIR, chargesheet, site plan, mechanical inspection report and postmortem report, the tribunal held that the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the motorcycle.
The tribunal noted that the eyewitness, who ran a cycle repair shop near the spot, consistently deposed that the motorcycle was being driven at a very high speed and struck the cyclist after he took a U-turn.
"The very factum that the offending vehicle, which was a motorcycle, hit against a cyclist, itself shows that the offending vehicle was being driven by its driver in a rash and negligent manner," the tribunal observed.
The tribunal assessed the deceased's income based on the minimum wage of an unskilled worker in Delhi at Rs 18,066 per month as no documentary proof of the income was produced.
The tribunal awarded a compensation of Rs 22.91 lakh to the family of the deceased.
It noted that the motorcycle was insured at the time of the accident and directed the insurance company to pay the compensation amount.
