E-Paper
Road accident victims should undergo liquor tests: Court
A Delhi court has suggested that the road accident victims should also undergo medical checkup to verify if he was driving the vehicle in an inebriated state.
A Delhi court has suggested that the road accident victims should also undergo medical checkup to verify if he was driving the vehicle in an inebriated state.
"There is need that even if a person lodges a complaint that he has been hit and injured by another vehicle and if it is found that he himself has consumed alcohol, even he should be put through a test to find out whether he himself was fit to drive his vehicle," Swarana K Sharma, presiding Judge Motor Accident Claim Tribunal, said.
The court said if a person driving his vehicle in a drunken state hits, injures or kills someone or gets injured, he ultimately remains a threat on the road.
Tests relating to content of alcohol in blood helps to ascertain whether the victim himself is guilty of contributory negligence, the court added.
The court came down heavily on the police for failing to conduct alcohol test on two victims in an accident claim case.
Drunk drivers have made the roads of Delhi killer roads. When the petitioners (in a case) smell alcohol in the breath, neither their blood samples are taken nor any action taken against them to ascertain whether they are under the influence of liquor," the judge said.
The court awarded compensation to motorcycle-riding victims who were injured after being hit by a commercial vehicle, rejecting the charge of contributory negligence as the police failed to conduct proper tests on them.
