Thane, April 4 The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane district of Maharashtra has awarded a compensation of Rs 21.5 lakh to the family of a 45-year-old woman who was killed by a speeding tempo in 2020.
The tribunal, presided over by K P Shrikhande, held the tempo driver solely responsible for the fatal accident, directing the vehicle owner and insurer to jointly and severally pay the compensation with a 9 per cent annual interest from December 9, 2020, when the claim was filed, until the amount is fully recovered.
A copy of the order passed on March 30 was made available on Saturday.
The accident occurred on August 30, 2020, on the Kalyan-Bhiwandi road near Kongaon, when a speeding tempo hit the victim, Meera Kamlesh Singh, from behind while she was standing near a road divider.
The victim succumbed to the injuries sustained in the accident.
The tribunal held that the vehicle was being driven in a reckless and negligent manner.
Citing a Supreme Court ruling, the tribunal noted, "It is established in law that once a chargesheet has been filed and the driver has been found negligent, no further evidence is required to establish negligence."
The tribunal dismissed the insurer's contention regarding breach of policy conditions.
Treating the deceased as a homemaker, the tribunal fixed a notional income of Rs 7,000 per month and calculated the total compensation at Rs 21.5 lakh.
