11-year-old disabled girl gets Rs.8 lakh compensation

Motor Accident Claims Tribunal Judge Ashwani Sarpal awarded Rs.584,713, along with over Rs.200,000 as interest, to the family members of the minor girl. Her family had filed a petition in 2007, seeking Rs.9 lakh compensation.

“Medical record shows that the petitioner suffered grievous injuries and permanent disability... it is held that the accident had taken place due to rash and negligent driving of the offending car,” the court said in its judgment Wednesday.

The court held the driver Rajan Jain guilty under the Motor Vehicles Act. Rupali's both legs were crushed and she was left 45 percent permanently disabled when a speeding car hit her while she was on her way to school in Rohini Nov 5, 2006.  

The court has directed Jain's insurance company to pay the sum within a month along with an interest of 7.5 percent per annum from the date when the case was filed which adds up to over Rs.2 lakh. According to doctors, Rupali's legs were crushed due to which she suffers permanent disability.

The court also sympathised with the girl. “Due to the accident, she could not go out of her house to play with her friends and suffered loss of amenities. She must have suffered great mental trauma and shock of accident which cannot be even imagined. Such type of non-pecuniary losses cannot be assessed in terms of money.”