The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane, Maharashtra, has awarded Rs 1.09 crore to the family of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, Dhanjibhai Shanabhai Solanki, who was fatally injured in a road accident in 2019. The tribunal, led by Judge S B Agrawal, ruled that the insurance company responsible must compensate the victim’s family, including his wife and two minor children, with an interest rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of filing the petition until the full realization of the amount on Rs 73 lakh, which excludes future prospects.
The legal documentation of this order was disclosed on Tuesday, following the court’s decision made on August 12. Representing the petitioners, advocate S B Ghatge illustrated the tragic incident wherein Solanki, a 37-year-old CRPF driver, was run over by a speeding luxury bus after his vehicle had broken down on the Sion-Panvel Highway on June 18, 2019. The court found that the bus driver’s negligence was the cause of the fatal accident.*
In a twist during the proceedings, the insurance company contended that the policy had been canceled due to a dishonored cheque. However, the tribunal dismissed this claim, stating that the insurer was still obliged to provide compensation. It was also established that the insurance company has the right to recover the compensated amount from the bus owner but must prioritize the victim’s family’s payment.
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The compensation awarded includes Rs 73 lakh for the loss of income and future prospects of the deceased, alongside allocations for loss of estate (Rs 15,000), filial consortium (Rs 40,000), and funeral expenses (Rs 15,000).
