DJB, driver asked to pay Rs 47 lakh for mishap

New Delhi: Family members of an Intelligence Bureau inspector, who died after being hit by a Delhi Jal Board (DJB) water tanker, have been awarded Rs 47 lakh compensation by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT).

MACT presiding officer Pawan Kumar Jain directed the chief executive officer of DJB and the driver of the tanker to jointly pay Rs 47,83,000 to the victim’s family. The victim, Kirpal Dutt Walia, was on a motorcycle with his friend when the vehicle hit them almost a decade ago.

The tribunal decided the petition in favour of Walia’s mother, wife, and daughter while relying on the testimony of his friend, who was an eyewitness. The documents on record including the FIR, charge sheet, post-mortem report, and mechanical inspection report were also taken into consideration. According to the petition, Walia and his friend met with the accident on January 20, 2008, when they were hit by the rashly and negligently driven DJB tanker. Due to the impact, Walia fell down and died on the spot while his friend suffered injuries. Both were taken to the hospital where Walia was declared brought dead. The driver was arrested from the accident spot. During the proceedings, the driver and the DJB had denied the allegations and instead blamed the victim for rash driving.