In a significant judgement, the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has awarded a compensation of Rs 1.5 crore to the family of Laksminarayan Tarneerao Pulakala, a company owner who was tragically killed in a road accident in 2021. The accident occurred on February 13, 2021, while Pulakala was riding his motorbike towards Boisar in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. A truck struck him from behind, causing him to fall and subsequently be run over, resulting in his immediate death at the scene.
Pulakala, 31 at the time of his death, was the proprietor of a labour supplier firm, with an annual income reported at Rs 12.95 lakh. His surviving family members, including his wife, mother, and minor child, originally sought Rs 2.17 crore in compensation.
During the proceedings, the truck owner failed to appear, prompting the tribunal to issue an ex-parte order against him on December 17, 2024. MACT member SN Shah has directed both the truck owner and the insurer to jointly compensate Pulakala’s family. They are ordered to pay with an interest of 8 percent per annum from the claim filing date until full payment is realized. Failure to pay within the specified timeframe will attract an increased interest rate of 8.50 percent per annum.
The total compensation of Rs 1.5 crore includes Rs 1.06 crore for future loss of dependency, Rs 42.68 lakh for loss of future income, Rs 15,000 for funeral expenses, and Rs 40,000 for filial consortium. The distribution plan outlined by the tribunal assigns Rs 70 lakh directly to Pulakala’s wife, with an additional Rs 30 lakh each to be secured in fixed deposits for her and their child. Pulakala’s mother has been allocated Rs 20.1 lakh.
