The Allahabad High Court sought an explanation from the MACT Sultanpur Presiding Officer over a two-decade delay in compensating a widow. Despite a 2019 Lok Adalat order directing payment within sixty days, she remains unpaid after six years.
The Allahabad High Court has directed the Presiding Officer of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT), Sultanpur, to explain the delay in deciding payment of compensation to a widow who has been awaiting relief for nearly two decades.
Justice Jaspreet Singh noted that a Lok Adalat on September 14, 2019, had ordered the compensation to be paid within 60 days, yet the woman had still not received the funds even after six years.
Court records show a dispute between the woman’s former counsel and her current lawyer, and the MACT issued an order stating the amount should not be disbursed without hearing the previous lawyer. The High Court has asked the Presiding Officer to justify the legal basis for that directive.
The Court said,
“From a perusal of the order dated 06.02.2026, the manner and the content of the order passed by the Presiding Officer of the M.A.C.T Sultanpur indicating that without hearing the erstwhile counsel of the petitioner, the amount cannot be withdrawn and it is not acceptable and it raises a question that under what authority the Presiding Officer of the M.A.C.T Sultanpur could have passed such order,”
The bench described it as alarming that the tribunal had involved itself in an internal dispute between two advocates, stating such conduct is indefensible.
The Court directed,
“Let explanation be furnished by the Presiding Officer by the next date,”
Background:
In September 2007, the widow was awarded Rs 7.12 lakh under the Motor Vehicles Act after her husband’s death in a road accident. United India Insurance Company initially challenged that award but withdrew its appeal in September 2019, after which the Lok Adalat ordered payment within 60 days.
Calling the continued non-payment unfortunate, the Court remarked,
“By means of the instant petition, the petitioner has raised an issue which reflects a very unhappy situation.”
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 10.
Counsel: Advocates Vinod Kumar Singh, Nandu, Saurabh Upadhyay and Upasana Singh represented the petitioner. Advocate Vijay Dixit appeared for the High Court.
Case Title: Renoo Singh v. Motor Accident Claim Tribunal, Distt. Sultanpur & Another.
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