The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) asked the Centre, Delhi government and the local police to devise a mechanism to prevent plying of uninsured vehicles on roads. The Tribunal, in a statement, said that mere prosecution of offenders is not sufficient to alleviate the suffering of victims.
The observation came into light when MACT's presiding officer Anoop Kumar Mendiratta awarded a compensation of ₹14.2 lakh to a hawker who was rendered completely disabled after being hit by an uninsured auto-rickshaw. The accident was found to be caused by rash driving.
Such accidents are common on Indian roads and there has been an alarming increase in accidents where the vehicle involved is uninsured, making it difficult for the victim to get compensation.
“Considering the plight of victims of motor vehicular accidents, one cannot be a mute spectator and some online mechanism needs to be evolved to ensure that the uninsured vehicles which are registered with the respective transport authorities get reflected in case of non-renewal of motor insurance policy within the stipulated period and are not permitted to ply on the roads without the insurance cover,” the order said.
The MACT order further stressed on development of a software with a centralised server that interlinks transport authorities, insurance firms and the prosecuting agency, the state police. The step is expected to go a long way in curbing menace. It will also help in tracing vehicles running without insurance or pending renewals, and allow the government to take strict action against them according to the tribunal.