Delhi constable gets Rs.1.76 lakh from court

NEW DELHI - An accident tribunal has awarded Rs.1.76 lakh to a Delhi Police constable, Suresh Chand, who was hit by a speeding car when he was checking vehicles in July 2006.

Awarding the compensation, Swarana K. Sharma, presiding officer of the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT), also urged Delhi Police to conduct alcohol test on drivers.

“It is essential and desirable that such instructions are issued to concerned police stations investigating accident cases that such (alcohol) tests be conducted by investigating officers mandatorily,” said Swarana.

“It would teach him (erring driver) a lesson. The financial burden would … be a deterrent for persons who do not hesitate to drive vehicles after consuming liquor as they know that the insurance company would pay the compensation,” the court said.

The court was hearing a plea from the constable who was hit July 6, 2006 near Rajghat.

MACT also favoured handing out deterrent punishment to drunken drivers who harm or kill, saying otherwise “the roads of Delhi will remain killer roads.”

The court also expressed concern over the absence of adequate security arrangement for policemen on duty.

“In this case, the driver did not even hesitate to hit a group of policemen on duty. One shudders to think what he would have done to common men.

“A double duty is, therefore, cast on the Delhi police to be more vigilant and careful in prosecuting and investigating such drivers,” the court said.