The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane has granted Rs 11.15 lakh as compensation to Shamim Iqbal Sheth, a woman who was severely injured in an autorickshaw accident back in 2014. The decision, announced by Chairman S B Agrawal on February 12 and made public on Saturday, addresses the injuries and subsequent hardships faced by Sheth due to the accident.
Shamim Iqbal Sheth, formerly a hospital administrator, was traveling in an autorickshaw near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park flyover on October 28, 2014, when the vehicle collided with a car. According to case documents, the autorickshaw driver’s rash and negligent driving was the primary cause of the accident. Sheth sustained serious injuries that led to partial disability in her left lower limb after undergoing three surgeries. As a result of her injuries, she was unable to continue her job as a receptionist-cum-administrator at a hospital, where she earned a monthly salary of Rs 18,500.
During the tribunal proceedings, the Future Generali India Insurance Company Ltd, the insurer of the autorickshaw, contested the claim on grounds that the autorickshaw driver did not possess a valid driving license at the time of the accident. Despite this, the tribunal held both the autorickshaw’s owner and the insurance company jointly and severally liable for the accident.
In his ruling, Chairman Agrawal recognized the suffering endured by Sheth but noted that her disability was not expected to significantly impact her future earning capacity. Nevertheless, the tribunal ordered the compensation of Rs 11.15 lakh to be paid to Sheth, along with an interest rate of 7.5 percent per annum from the date the compensation petition was filed until the realization of the full amount.
