Thane, Aug 9 A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Maharashtra's Thane district has granted a compensation of Rs 63.8 lakh to the family of a 34-year-old man killed after being hit by a truck in 2018.
MACT member R V Mohite on Friday directed the truck owner, Rajaram R Gupta, and the insurer, Shri Ram General Insurance Co. Ltd., to jointly and severally pay the compensation along with an interest of 9 per cent per annum from the date of the filing of the petition in 2018 until the realisation of the amount.
The petition was filed by the wife of the victim, Sharad Gaikwad, his two children, and parents.
The plea stated that on June 4, 2018, the victim, employed as a store manager, was riding pillion on a motorcycle on the Nashik-Mumbai Highway when a speeding truck rammed into the two-wheeler. He sustained severe injuries and died days later at a hospital.
The police filed a chargesheet against truck driver Rameqbal Rajitram Mishra.
The insurance company contested the claim, challenging the truck's involvement and pointing to a 29-day delay in lodging the formal FIR on July 3, 2018. It also questioned the driver's identity and alleged a breach of policy terms.
Refuting the insurer's arguments, the tribunal observed that the victim's health and well-being were the priorities of his relatives following the accident, and it is not expected of them to first rush to the police station.
The tribunal held that delay in lodging the FIR is no ground to deny the involvement of the offending vehicle when backed by the chargesheet and eyewitness testimony.
Taking into account the deceased's monthly income of Rs 23,800 and his age, the tribunal fixed the final compensation at Rs 63.8 lakh.
