‘Accidents should be probed in presence of victims’ kin’

As per the case, false claims were filed for the same accident by the three advocates with the help of touts and police for the same claimants. The identity of the vehicle involved in the accident was fake.

On taking judicial note of the case, Justice P N Prakash, while forming a panel to investigate the alleged illegalities in road accident claims, referred the matter to the Bar Council for action against the said advocates.

The disciplinary committee while recording the role played by an uneducated tout and how the three advocates took refuge under him for the fraud played by them on the court as well as the public, offered several suggestions.

Noting that the accidents caused by unidentified vehicles are the ‘money trees’ for the above three classes of people, the court suggested a thorough investigation of accident cases by the concerned police in the presence of the Insurance Company representatives and kin of the victims in cases of death, or victims themselves in case of injuries. The report should be submitted to the TN State Legal Aid Authority within two weeks from the date of date of accident along with the required documents, the court said.

Thereafter, the State Legal Aid Authority on receipt of such a report should call for all the parties and try to settle the matter by placing the same before the Lok Adalat, who by following the guidelines offered by the Supreme Court and Madras High Court should fix and award a just and fair compensation.