The court emphasized the importance of expeditious disposal of claims under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, particularly interim claims under Section 140, to provide immediate relief to accident victims and their families.

( 1 ) DURING the pendency of the writ petition the Courts of MACT have since been encadred in judicial service. In this view these Courts would be under the direct supervisory power of the High Court under Article 235 of the Constitution of India.

( 2 ) IN this public interest writ petition the grievance is regarding the working of Motor Accident Claims Tribunals (MACT) in Delhi. According to the petitioner, the constitutional rights enshrined under Article 21 and Article 14 of the Constitution of the family members of the victims and those who suffer serious permanent disability are being violated because of lack of proper functioning of these Tribunals.

( 3 ) AS directed by this Court reports have been sent giving the details of pendency of cases before different Tribunals and details about the disposal of the cases by the Tribunals. Considering the large pendency of the cases, learned Counsel for the petitioner, relying on decision of a Division Bench of this Court in the case of lnnder Mohan v. Union of India etc. , CWP. 2646/82 decided on 8th May, 1984 wherein directions were issued for constitution of one Industrial Tribunal and two Labour Courts, submits that appropriate directions be issued to the respondents to constitute more number of the Tribunals to deal with cases of compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

( 4 ) HAVING considered the matter, we are of the view that it would be appropriate if the details of pendency are examined by the High Court on Administrative Side and appropriate decision taken on the question of constitution of more Tribunals for which purpose various factors will have to be kept in view. The pendency of the number of cases; number of cases decided every month; the availability of judicial office s; the infrastructure that can be made available and numerous such matters will have to be examined while taking decision on the question of constitution of additional Tribunals. The aspect of long dates given by the Tribunals is, of course, be one of the aspects, which is intimately connected with number of the cases pending and would be taken into consideration. Undoubtedly the public is suffering immensely because of long delays particularly in these matters. We have no doubt that the High Court will decide this matter expeditiously.

( 5 ) SECTION 140 of the Motor Vehiclesact, 1988, inter alia, provides for liability to pay compensation in certain cases on the principle of no fault. The amount of compensation payable under Section 140incaseofdeathofanypersonisrs. 50,000. 00 and inrespect of permanent disablement it is Rs. 25. 000. 00. The enquiry for determining no fault liability to be conducted by the Tribunal is summary in nature. The main object behind enacting this provision is to provide immediate relief to the family members of the deceased or person who may have suffered permanent disability. That is the reason for Section 141, inter alia, providing that claim for compensation undersection 140 shall be disposed of as expeditiously as possible.

( 6 ) IT has been brought to our notice that even disposal of claims under Section 140 takes considerable time.

( 7 ) HAVING regard to the laudable object in enacting Sections 140 and 141, we have no doubt that the officers must be trying their best to expeditiously dispose of such interim claims and applications though, of course, keeping in view the work load with the MACT s. We, however, feel that this Court, at a glance, should know the time taken by the Tribunals for deciding these interim claim applications. Accordingly, we direct the Registrar of this Court to issue direction to Presiding Officers of the Tribunals requiring them to send quarterly returns in respect of disposal of the applications under Section 140, giving details of the month of filing of the applications and the month of decision thereof and reasons, if any, for delay of disposal of such applications. The returns so filed shall be placed before learn