Punjab court affirms widow's compensation rights post-remarriage

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that a widow can still receive compensation after remarrying. This decision came after Balwinder Kaur challenged an earlier ruling by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) that denied her compensation for her husband’s death due to her remarriage. Balwinder’s husband, Harjinder Singh, was a soldier who died in a road accident in 2006. After a car hit his motorcycle, he suffered severe injuries and passed away days later. Balwinder filed a claim for 20 lakh rupees, but the tribunal awarded her only 2.68 lakh rupees. The tribunal had decided that she was not entitled to compensation because she had remarried her deceased husband's brother. Balwinder appealed to the High Court, arguing that her remarriage should not affect her right to the compensation for her husband's death. The court agreed, stating that a widow's decision to remarry is a personal choice and does not negate her right to seek compensation for her loss. The court increased the compensation amount to 19.06 lakh rupees. It ordered that 50% of this amount should go to Balwinder, while the other half would be given to her husband's family. This ruling emphasizes the rights of widows regarding compensation, regardless of their marital status after the death of their spouse.