Thane: The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT), Thane, directed a private bus owner and an insurance company to jointly pay Rs 30.11 lakh to the family of a man who died in a road accident at Naupada in 2020.Presiding Member R.V. Mohite observed that the fatal incident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of a private motor bus involved in the accident.According to the plea, the victim was standing near a bus stop opposite the Gurudwara on the Mumbai–Nashik Highway on August 26, 2020, when the bus overshot the stop and suddenly reversed at speed without checking behind. The vehicle knocked him down, and its rear wheel ran over him, causing fatal injuries. He was declared dead before admission to a hospital in Kalwa.The plea in the tribunal further stated that the deceased was employed as an IT consultant and earned around Rs 30,000 per month. His family, comprising his spouse and two children, filed a petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act seeking compensation of Rs 75 lakh.The insurance company contested the claim, arguing that the driver did not possess a valid licence for heavy passenger vehicles. However, the tribunal held that the driver’s Light Motor Vehicle (Transport) licence was valid for driving the 45-seater bus, as its unladen weight was below 7,500 kg.After assessing income, dependency, and other non-pecuniary damages such as consortium and funeral expenses, the tribunal calculated a total compensation of Rs 30.11 lakh, with 9% annual interest from the date of filing until payment.The tribunal examined several key documents, including the FIR and charge sheet filed by Naupada police, the deceased’s PAN card, bank statements, Form 16A, and invoices proving his income as an IT consultant. Evidence from a bank official and a company representative supported the family’s claim. The insurance firm submitted the driver’s licence extract, vehicle details from the RTO, and an investigator’s report to contest liability. After reviewing all records and testimonies, the tribunal concluded that the accident resulted from the bus driver’s negligence and awarded compensation accordingly.
