National Insurance Co, driver to pay Rs 16 lakh compensation for mishap: Motor Accident Claims Tribunal

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal has awarded a compensation of Rs 16.27 lakhs to the wife and four children of a police head constable, who was killed in a road accident in 2004.

Tribunal's presiding judge M H More ordered the National Insurance Co Ltd and an autorickshaw owner, Babu Gopal Nichite, to jointly bear the compensation amount, which is to be paid to the claimants from Sahapur town of Thane district.

They were also required to pay an interest at the rate of nine per cent per annum on the amount from the date of claim in 2004 till the realisation of the amount, the tribunal at Kalyan ordered on January 15.

The claimants counsel, Pradeep Tillu, told the tribunal that head constable Shravan Bhalerao (43), working with the Thane police constabulary, was riding the pillion on a scooter on July 19, 2004 when an autorickshaw coming from the opposite side hit it. Bhalerao suffered serious injuries and succumbed on July 29, 2004.

The applicants stated before the tribunal that they were dependents of the deceased and they had incurred expenses of Rs 2 lakh on Bhalerao's medical treatment.

They stated that the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the autorickshaw driver and the facts and circumstances of the case clearly indicated so.

The applicants told the tribunal that they had been deprived of the source of maintenance, expectations, support, companionship etc, which were provided by the deceased and therefore they claimed a compensation of Rs 15 lakhs.

However, K V Poojari, appearing for the insurance company, contested the claim and said that the accident was the result of contributory negligence of the scooter and the autorickshaw and hence the insurance company was not liable to pay any compensation and the claim was also too high.

... contd.

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