The 18

Nearly 18 years after a fatal road accident, theCalcutta High Courthas directed the National Insurance Company Ltd to pay Rs 11 lakhcompensationto the family of a womankilledin a Tata Sumo crash, holding that the insurer must first pay the compensation and may later recover the amount from the vehicle owner.

JusticeBiswaroop Chowdhury,while enhancing the compensation amount from Rs 8.20 lakh to Rs 11 lakh, called for an awareness programme on motor vehicleinsuranceand the risks of travelling in vehicles not meant for passengers.

The high court was hearing an appeal filed by the legal heirs of accident victim Dipali Halder, who was travelling in theTataSumo when it met with an accident in December 2007.

“Similarly, the general public should also be made aware of the consequences of travelling in a vehicle which is not for carrying passengers but for goods.

For this purpose, awareness programmes are necessary,” the CalcuttaHigh Courtsaid in its March 11 order.

The trial court, in its 2014 order, had earlierexoneratedthe National Insurance Company Ltd.

and held only the vehicle owner, Kala Chand Gain, liable to pay compensation of Rs 8.20 lakh.

Richa Sahay is a Legal Correspondent for The Indian Express, where she focuses on simplifying the complexities of the Indian judicial system.

A law postgraduate, she leverages her advanced legal education to bridge the gap between technical court rulings and public understanding, ensuring that readers stay informed about the rapidly evolving legal landscape.

Advanced Legal Education: As a law postgraduate, Richa possesses the academic depth required to interpret intricate statutes and constitutional nuances.

Her background allows her to provide more than just summaries; she offers context-driven analysis of how legal changes impact the average citizen.

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