THANE: The family members of a forest officer from Murbad in Thane district who died in a road accident in 2018 have been awarded a compensation of around Rs 85 lakh in a recent order of Thane accident claims tribunal (MACT).
In an order, MACT member RN Rokade ordered the two opponents to pay up compensation to the family of the deceased jointly and severally along with 7% interest from the date of claim.
The two opponents in the case were Rajendra Rathore, owner of the tanker, and New India Assurance Company.
The claimants were represented by advocate SM Pawar. The insurance company contested the claim on various grounds represented by advocate KV Poojari. The owner of the tanker did not not appear and the matter was decided exparte against him — meaning, in his absence.
In the claim, the widow of the deceased, Avinash Bombe, his aged parents and children informed the tribunal that Bombe, then aged 38, worked as a range forest officer.
On May 14, 2018, around 11pm, he was near the entrance of a housing complex on his bike parked on the service road when the oncoming tanker driven in a “rash and negligence manner collided head-on” with the bike. Bombe fell down, suffered serious injures and died on the spot.
His family told the tribunal that he drew a salary of Rs 43,396. They submitted that they were totally dependent on him and the claim was filed for award of compensation.
In his order the member of the tribunal observed, “.. the accident took place solely because of rash and negligent driving on the part of the driver of the tanker. The insurance company failed to adduce any material on record to prove breach of contract of insurance, if any. The liability of both the opponents to pay the compensation cannot be gainsaid. Therefore, I am inclined to hold that both opponents are jointly and severally liable to pay the compensation.”
The total compensation amount which is Rs 84,94,600 includes, Rs 40,000 towards consortium to the widow, Rs.15,000 each towards loss of estate and funeral expenses, the order said.
