New Delhi : The Supreme Court has directed the states to set up special units in police stations within three months to investigate motor accident cases and to settle claims.
After getting the information about accidents caused by motor vehicles in public places, the concerned department took action according to clause 159 of the ‘Motor Vehicle Maintenance’ Act. After that the police should file the claim before the tribunal within three months, as ordered by the Supreme Court. Justice. s. A. Nazir and J. Of. Maheshwari’s seat gave a decision regarding this. The Court said, ‘The head of the State Home Department and the Director General of Police in all the States/Union Territories shall set up a special unit in the police stations or at least at the city level to investigate the motor accident claim cases and to settle the claims. It is necessary to take action within a period of three months. As directed by the Supreme Court, after registering the FIR, the investigating officer acted as prescribed in the Motor Vehicle Maintenance Rules, 2022 and submitted the first accident report within 48 hours.
What accountability?
– The officer in the police station unit will check the vehicle registration, driver’s license, vehicle fitness certificate etc. in detail.
– The original owner of the vehicle, its insurance company, legality of the dealer and other things will be thoroughly investigated.
After examining all the papers, a detailed report was submitted with regards.
– The responsibility of the concerned officer is important, his notes will be very important.
– If the claimant or legal heir of the deceased has filed an independent petition in the territorial jurisdiction of various High Courts, then the first claim petition filed by the claimant/legal heir shall be maintained and the subsequent claim petition shall be transferred to the Claims Tribunal.
The state government is empowered to develop a joint ‘web portal’ to coordinate with the stakeholders for the implementation of Motor Vehicle Maintenance Act and rules and regulations in coordination with any ‘agency’.- Supreme Court
Ritika
