Family of mishap victim awarded Rs 55.84 lakh compensation

Thane, Oct 3: The family of a 32-year-old bank manager, who died in a road accident in 2009, has been awarded a compensation of Rs 55.84 lakhs by the Thane Motor Accident Claims Tribunal here.

District Judge and Additional Member of MACT AS Jadhav ordered opponents Rahat Asmat Khot, (owner of the offending vehicle) and the Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. to jointly and severally pay the compensation along with interest at the rate of 7 per cent from the date of application, to the claimants.

Appearing for the claimants, counsels Advocate Natha M Jadhav and RV Thorve told the Tribunal that the deceased, Srinivasalu Siddiah Nagineni was working as an Assistant Manager with ICICI Bank.

On January 7, 2009 he along with a co-employee Suresh Ahire were proceeding on the Pune Link road from Katemanivali Naka towards Chakki Naka when the mishap took place. The deceased was riding pillion on a motorbike, into which a truck dumper rammed from the rear. Both the victim and Ahire died on the spot, the Tribunal was told.

They also submitted that the deceased was drawing a salary of Rs 33,000 per month. After the mishap, family members Padmaja Srinivasalu Nagineni, 31 (widow), daughter Sai Sahitya S Naigneni (2) and parents N Siddiah Venkatamaiya Nagineni, 54 and mother Shubhamma Siddiah Naineni, 50 lodged a claim. Intially, the mother and daughter had lodged the claim for Rs 1 lakh.

Later the parents joined in the claim as they were dependents and the amount rose to Rs 45 lakhs. They submitted that the dumper was being driven in a rash and negligent manner resulting in the death of the duo.

As the owner of the dumper absented himself in the case, it was decided ex-parte against him. But the insurance company contested the claim and stated that the owner of the motorcycle has not been made as a party and hence the claim petition was bad for non-joinder of necessary party.

In support of their claim, victim's family members submitted the chargesheet filed by police, copy of inquest panchnama, spot panchnama, and postmortem report.

Additonally to prove the income of the bank officer of the bank was examined in the court. Jadhav, in his argument, submitted that MACT has already awarded the claim filed by the family members of Ahire and the insurance company has already made the payment of the same. Hence there was no point in contesting the present claim.

PTI