The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane has ordered a truck owner and Reliance General Insurance Co. Ltd. to pay a combined compensation of more than ₹31 lakh to three members of a family who were severely injured in a 2021 road accident. In three separate orders passed on May 8, Tribunal Member KP Shrikhande ruled that the victims are entitled to the compensation along with 9 per cent interest per annum from the date of the claim.
The accident occurred on November 26, 2021, on the Pune-Solapur Service Road within the limits of the Indapur police station. The victims—60-year-old Mathurabai Baban Babare, her 14-year-old grandson Arya Rupesh Babare, and an 18-year-old relative, Mahi Kesarinath Patil—were struck by a speeding truck while they were positioned off the main road.
The impact resulted in severe injuries to all three individuals, leading them to seek legal recourse through the tribunal for medical expenses and damages.
During the proceedings, the tribunal examined evidence including the First Information Report (FIR) and the spot panchnama. The MACT observed that the documentation clearly established the truck driver’s sole negligence.
The order noted that the victims were not on the main carriage way but were on the side of the road when the speeding vehicle hit them. “The evidence clearly proves that the accident occurred due to the sole negligence of the driver of the truck,” the tribunal stated, corroborating the victims’ version of events with the police records.
The tribunal directed that the compensation be paid “jointly and severally” by the truck’s owner and the insurance provider. The court found that the insurance policy was valid at the time of the mishap and there was no evidence of any breach of terms by the vehicle owner.
The total compensation awarded exceeds ₹31 lakh, distributed among the three victims based on the nature of their claims and injuries:
- Mahi Kesarinath Patil: Awarded ₹13.97 lakh.
- Arya Rupesh Babare: Awarded ₹11.14 lakh.
- Mathurabai Baban Babare: Awarded ₹6.61 lakh.
The 9 per cent annual interest will be applied to these amounts, significantly increasing the final payout to the family members.
