The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane has directed an insurance company to pay ₹22.37 lakh as compensation to the family of a 52-year-old man killed in a road accident caused by a police constable’s rash driving.
MACT member R. V. Mohite, in an order dated September 19, held that the accident was the result of negligent driving by the vehicle owner. The tribunal instructed Future General India Insurance Co. Ltd. to disburse the entire compensation amount, with liberty to recover it from the car owner, since he was found to be driving without a valid licence at the time of the incident.
The victim, Ramesh Kamlakar More, who worked as a cleaner in a private company, was walking along the left side of the road near Gram Vikas Chowk on June 21, 2021, when he was struck by the car. More succumbed to his injuries the following day.
CCTV footage showed that the car initially fled the scene but later returned, with the driver eventually taking the injured man to hospital. The Kharghar police filed a chargesheet against the driver under sections 304A of the Indian Penal Code (causing death by negligence) and 3(1)/181 of the Motor Vehicles Act (driving without licence).
The tribunal concluded that there was a breach of the insurance policy terms as the driver did not possess a valid and effective driving licence at the time. Despite the family’s claim of ₹46.70 lakh, the tribunal awarded ₹22.37 lakh based on the deceased’s verified income and statutory guidelines.
The compensation will carry an interest of 9% per annum from the date of filing the petition until payment is made.
