Farmers are skilled workers under Motor Vehicle Act: Court

"It (farming) is rather the skill and the knowledge of the ancestors which is handed down from one generation to another. Though each farmer of this country may not be educationally qualified as yet and it may yet be a dream, but that does not mean he is not skilled for tilling his fields," the court said.

Presiding Officer Motor Accident Claim Tribunal Swarana Kanta Sharma said holding the view that the farmers were not skilled workers would tantamount to not extending the due respect and recognition to them as to be a farmer did not require having a formal degree in Agriculture Science.

"The farmers, who produce food for us from mother earth, if they cannot be considered skilled, then I wonder who else can be? Therefore, while deciding the case, I will consider the petitioner, who is a farmer by profession, to be skilled to assess the loss of wages," the judge said.

The court rejected the contention of Bajaj Allianz Insurance Company Ltd and granted a compensation of Rs 2.02 lakh to Ram Snehi Lal, 60 who was injured in an accident with a car and suffered a partial disability.

Lal sustained injuries as a pillion rider while Avdhesh died on the spot after their motorcycle was hit in the accident near Anand Vihar here on November, 17, 2008, by a car which was being driven in a rash and negligent manner.

In its order, the court also granted a compensation of Rs 11.87 lakh to family members of Avdhesh, 34, who worked in a shoe company and earned Rs 8,000 per month.

The court held that the accident in the case took place due to rash and negligent driving of the car by Lalit and directed the insurance company to pay the amount to Lal and family members of Avdhesh.