The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane has granted Rs 16.33 lakh in compensation to the family of a young man who tragically lost his life in a road accident in 2015. MACT member S N Shah, in her ruling on August 17, directed that the compensation be paid by the owner of a luxury bus involved in the accident and the insurer, with an 8 percent interest rate from the date the compensation claim was filed.
Ankush Barku Tambikar, 25, was fatally injured when his motorcycle was struck by a luxury bus on the Mumbai-Goa highway near Savatsada on August 13, 2015. The decision, detailed in a court document made available this Thursday, benefits his mother, 68-year-old Sulochana Barku Tambitkar, and his widow, Akshara Tambitkar, who reside in Chiplun, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra.
The bus, operated by Sai Shruti Travels, and insured by Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd, are named as respondents in this case. The tribunal proceeded ex-parte against the bus owner after their failure to appear in court, while the insurance company, represented by advocate K V Poojari, contested the claim on various grounds.*
Advocate S S Kadam, representing the deceased’s family, argued for a compensation of Rs 20 lakh, citing Tambikar’s employment at a company in Khed where he earned Rs 8,139 monthly. He emphasized Tambikar’s youth and health as key factors in the family’s substantial dependency on his income.
The tribunal calculated the compensation based on several factors, including Rs 10,87,932 for “loss of future dependency” and Rs 4,35,173 for anticipated income and other financial contributions. Additionally, the award included Rs 15,000 for both funeral expenses and loss of estate, with another Rs 40,000 each for “filial consortium and consortium.”
