The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane has awarded ₹10.45 lakh in compensation to the family of a 54-year-old man who died after being hit by an autorickshaw in Mumbai’s Mulund area in 2019.
In its June 30 order, a copy of which became available on Thursday, MACT Member R.V. Mohite directed the autorickshaw’s owner and insurance company to jointly and severally pay the compensation along with 9% annual interest from the date of filing the petition.
The deceased, Mohammad Aslam Farukh Shaikh, sustained serious injuries after being struck by an autorickshaw on November 7, 2019, and later succumbed during treatment. Following his death, his family approached the tribunal seeking compensation.
While the autorickshaw driver remained absent during tribunal proceedings, the insurer contested the claim on the grounds of a one-month delay in lodging the FIR and alleged the driver lacked a valid licence.
Rejecting both arguments, the tribunal observed, “No doubt FIR came to be registered after one month of accident. But lodging of FIR certainly proves factum of accident. Delay in doing so cannot be the ground for rejecting the claim petition.”
The tribunal further held that the accident was a result of rash and negligent driving and confirmed that the driver did, in fact, possess a valid licence at the time of the incident, thereby dismissing the insurer’s contention of a policy breach.
Accordingly, the tribunal directed the compensation to be disbursed with 9% annual interest, providing a measure of relief to Shaikh’s grieving family.
