Tribunal rules in favour of accident victims; insurance company held liable
Thane, May 11 – The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Maharashtra's Thane district has awarded compensation exceeding Rs 87 lakh to the family of a deceased woman and two other individuals who were seriously injured in a 2017 truck accident.MACT Chairman S B Agrawal delivered the order on May 8, with the ruling copy made available on Saturday. The petitions were filed against truck owner Munna Maghai Yadhav and United India Insurance Co Ltd, which insured the vehicle. Advocate Y S Duduskar appeared on behalf of the petitioners, and advocate K V Poojari represented the insurance firm. The truck owner did not appear and was declared ex parte in all proceedings.
Accident Details
The tragic incident occurred on April 22, 2017, along the Nashik-Mumbai Highway. A group of Sadhwis and their attendants were travelling on foot and in wheelchairs during a pilgrimage from Nashik to Mumbai when a truck ploughed into them. The crash resulted in both fatal and severe injuries among the group.Tribunal Compensation Breakdown
- Ratnashilaji Hirachand Chopda Jain (66) was in a wheelchair during the incident and suffered multiple injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen. She has remained bedridden since. The tribunal awarded her Rs 38.58 lakh in compensation.
- Ratni alias Rupni Hansda sustained severe head injuries and later succumbed during treatment. Her family was awarded Rs 24.32 lakh as compensation.
- Sunita alias Samonidevi Neyaka Manjhi (64) suffered head injuries and fractures. The tribunal granted her Rs 24.37 lakh.
Liability and Insurance
United India Insurance Co Ltd had contested liability, alleging a breach of policy terms due to the driver's lack of a valid licence or permit. However, the tribunal found no evidence supporting the insurer’s claim and held both the insurance company and the truck owner jointly liable to compensate the victims.This ruling reinforces the legal protections available to accident victims and highlights the accountability of insurers in the absence of proven policy violations.