NEW DELHI, Dec 30: The Supreme Court has directed the states to constitute a special unit in police stations within three months to investigate and facilitate motor accident claim cases.
Issuing a slew of directions, the top court said on receiving intimation about a road accident by a motor vehicle at a public place, the SHO concerned shall take steps as per Section 159 of the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act under which an Accident Information Report is to be filed to the Claims Tribunal within three months by the police.
“In our view, the head of the Home Department of the State and the Director General of Police in all States/Union Territories shall ensure the compliance of the Rules by constituting a special unit in the police stations or at least at town level to investigate and facilitate the motor accident claim cases. The said action must be ensured within a period of three months,” a bench of Justices S A Nazeer and J K Maheshwari said.
The top court said after registering the FIR, the Investigating Officer shall act as specified in the Motor Vehicles Amendment Rules, 2022 and submit the First Accident Report within 48 hours to the Claims Tribunal. “The registering officer is duty bound to verify the registration of the vehicle, driving licence, fitness of vehicle, permit and other ancillary issues and submit the report in coordination to the police officer before the Claims Tribunal.
“The flow chart and all other documents, as specified in the rules, shall either be in vernacular language or in English language, as the case may be and shall be supplied as per Rules,” the bench said in a recent order. Observing that the role of the IO is very important, it said the officer shall inform the victim or the legal representative, driver, owner, insurance companies and other stakeholders with respect to the action taken while following the Motor Vehicles Amendment Rules. (PTI)
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