NHRC asks Delhi govt to pay Rs 1 lakh to accident victim’s kin

Rejecting Delhi government’s contention, NHRC has asked it to pay Rs 1 lakh as relief to the family of a road accident victim due to failure of a head constable in taking action against the accused.

The case pertains to an accident on September 24, 2013, when one Bhagwati Devi was hit by a bike in east Delhi and succumbed to injuries in a hospital. Locals had caught the biker and handed him over to the police under Geeta Colony police station, but allegedly the head constable had not handled the case properly, leading to failure in taking action against the accused. The Commission, which took cognisance of the matter on September 27, 2013, on the basis of a complaint, set aside the contention of Delhi government that pending court proceedings and departmental enquiry, it will be premature to pay monetary relief to the kin of the deceased.

It has asked the Delhi government, through its Chief Secretary, to make the payment and send a compliance report along with proof of payment within six weeks.

It also rejected the state government’s contention that the next of kin of the deceased may avail compensation under the Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme, 2011, in the range of Rs 3-5 lakh. NHRC had found that carelessness of the head constable handling the accident case of Bhagwati Devi was prima facie established in the vigilance enquiry.