Child mentally disabled in mishap awarded nearly Rs 6 lakh

"It is a very sad case where the child who was only seven years of age at the time of accident had suffered mental retardation due to injuries sustained in the accident. She had suffered 75 per cent permanent disability which is not likely to be improved," MACT judge Swarana Kanta Sharma said.

The court directed United India Insurance Company Ltd, with which the offending Tata Safari car was insured, to pay Rs 5,90,750 to the victim and said, "No amount of compensation can compensate the loss of childhood and youth that the girl has suffered at this age. She has become dependent for her entire life on others."

According to the victim's father Om Prakash on June 2, 2009, when the girl along with her mother and brother was crossing the road at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, a Tata Safari car, driven at a reckless speed by its owner and Greater Kailash resident Manzoor Ahmad Simon came and hit her.

The girl fell on the road and was taken to hospital. As per the medical reports of doctors of LNJP hospital, the victim had suffered skull injuries and internal bleeding in the skull along with thigh bone fracture.

"The child has suffered mental retardation which has affected her prospect of marriage. She has also become a case of apathy and has lost interest in most of things," the judge said.

The court also noted that due to mental disability, the girl cannot study in a normal school and requires special education and training.

"It is a known fact that such special schools are unfortunately few in numbers and require expenditure for a long period," the judge said.