Manish Khristi (49) had to wait 2 decades to get compensation for an accident which left him paraplegic.
Recently, a
Motor Accident Claims Tribunal at the Mirzapur rural court campus ordered 2 insurance companies to pay Khristi Rs 30.46 lakh, with 9% interest since 2000, for the physical trouble he has been undergoing after the road accident.
2 decades later, the compensation means little for Khristi, whose 2 kids have now grown up & pursue higher studies. “I was 29 years old at the time of accident. My life has been ruined. I couldn't take my children out. I was completely cut off from society because of the problem. This compensation amount isn't going to solve my real problems,” he said.
Khristi was a chargeman with the
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). Since he became immobile due to the accident, the company assigned him with a desk job after he resumed work.
According to the case details, Khristi was returning in a luxury bus hired by the company for its staff members. The bus had a head-on collision with a truck on Ahmedabad-Sanand highway on Nov 13, 1999. The accident left Khristi paraplegic, without use of his legs. His disability was adjudged to be 90%.
Khristi wasn't granted compensation by the owners of the vehicles involved in the accident. He approached the court in 2000 & claimed Rs 30 lakh compensation. 19 years later, the court held that owners of both the vehicles were equally liable for Khristi’s loss. The court computed his loss at Rs 30.46 & the ordered owners of both the vehicles & their insurance companies – New India Assurance Co Ltd & Oriental Insurance Co Ltd – to pay 50% each to Khristi.
Source Link
Picture Source :
