Bombay HC Directs State Govt To Fill Vacancies In Motor Accident Claims Tribunal For Speedy Justice

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has taken a serious view of vacancies in Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) noting that claims before the tribunal are to be decided expeditiously. It added that unless necessary infrastructure is provided, “the vision of speedy justice to victims of motor accidents cannot be made into reality”.

A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre has directed the state to file an affidavit on the steps being taken to fill up the administrative vacancies in the MACT. The HC was hearing a PIL by Bar Association Of Motor Accident Claims Tribunal Mumbai, in 2022, seeking direction to the State to fill up the administrative staff vacancies of the tribunal in a time bound manner.

On April 26, 2024, the HC had issued a similar direction to the State asking it to file an affidavit on steps taken by it to fill the vacancies.

The bench noted that it has been more than a year since the order was passed. “You must apprise us of what you have done for the past one year… there is a statutory mandate in the Motor Vehicles Act that claims be decided in a time bound manner,” the bench remarked.

It added that the government had last filed an affidavit in February 2023 and asked to show what was done since then. While the State’s advocate said they have taken steps to fill the vacancies, the petitioner’s advocate disputed the same.

While asking the government to file an affidavit, the HC said in its order: “The motor vehicles claims cases are required to be decided expeditiously and until and unless adequate infrastructure is provided in the motor accidents claims tribunal, the vision of speedy justice to victims of motor accidents cannot be made into reality.”

The bench has also asked the government to submit a progress report along with the affidavit and kept the matter for hearing on February 27.