Income Tax Department to pay Rs six lakh to road mishap victim

NEW DELHI: The Income Tax Department has been ordered by a road mishap tribunal to pay over Rs six lakhs as compensation to a photographer who suffered permanent disability after being hit by a department's vehicle.

Motor Accident Claims Tribunal ( MACT) judge Rajiv Mehra ordered the IT department to pay damages to photographer Vijay Singh, saying "driver of the offending vehicle is the main tortfeasor (wrongdoer). A careless driving of the vehicle on his part has made the petitioner crippled for whole life."

Though the photographer suffered 78 per cent disability in his legs, the judge assessed his total physical disability only to the tune of 50 per cent for the purpose of fixing the compensation due to him.

"Considering the nature of his job, the functional disability vis-a-vis his whole body is assessed as 50 per cent as a photographer needs more use of his hands than his legs for his profession," the court said.

The court awarded compensation to IP Extension resident Singh on his plea, as per which he was hit by a Maruti Gypsy belonging to the Income Tax department on July 14, 2005 while riding his bike to work.

Hit from behind, 31-year-old Singh suffered multiple fractures in both legs. A First Information Report relating to the mishap was registered at Anand Vihar police station against driver Hiraman Singh Bhandari.