The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane has directed the owner of an autorickshaw to pay ₹26.21 lakh as compensation to the family of a 40-year-old man who lost his life in a road accident in 2018.
Tribunal member R.V. Mohite, in an order dated August 12 (copy made available on Monday), held the autorickshaw owner, Tayyab Mohammed Baig, solely liable for the accident. The tribunal rejected the contention of insurer Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. Ltd., which argued that the insurance policy of the vehicle was “fake and fabricated.”
Circumstances of the Accident
The fatal mishap occurred on May 4, 2018, when the autorickshaw driver, while chewing a tobacco-like substance, dropped his pouch inside the vehicle. In an attempt to pick it up, he lost control of the autorickshaw, which veered off the road and rammed into a roadside tree.
The tribunal found that the accident was caused by the driver’s “rash and negligent driving.” It also clarified that there was no contributory negligence on the part of the victim, who was employed with a logistics company at the time of the incident.
Compensation Awarded
The MACT awarded compensation to the deceased’s family under various heads, including pecuniary loss, future prospects, consortium, and funeral expenses. The total amount was calculated at ₹26.2 lakh, with an interest of 9% per annum from the date of the petition.
Owner Held Liable
Since the insurer’s claim was dismissed and the vehicle owner remained ex parte during the proceedings, the tribunal fixed liability solely on the autorickshaw owner for disbursing the compensation.
