Mumbai MACT Awards ₹24.90 Lakh To Widow Of Pedestrian Killed In 2016 Autorickshaw Accident

Mumbai, August 6, 2026: The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT), Mumbai, in a recent order awarded compensation to the widow of 58-year-old Dilip Angre, who was killed in a road accident after an autorickshaw hit him and overturned in 2016.

Dilip worked as an attendant with Taj Sats Air Catering Ltd. The tribunal held that his widow was financially dependent on the deceased and was legally entitled to compensation.

However, the tribunal rejected the claims of his two sons, aged 29 and 30, holding that they had failed to establish that they were financially dependent on their father’s income.

Tribunal On Dependency

“It is well settled that a legal representative is entitled to maintain a claim petition under the Motor Vehicles Act. However, compensation under the head of loss of dependency is payable only when actual financial dependency is proved. Mere relationship with the deceased or being a legal heir does not automatically establish dependency.

In the present case, applicant Nos. 2 and 3, being adult earning sons, have failed to prove that they were dependent upon the income of the deceased. Consequently, they cannot be treated as dependants for the purpose of assessing loss of dependency. They shall, however, continue to be treated as legal representatives of the deceased for the purpose of maintaining the claim petition and for the apportionment of compensation payable under other admissible heads,” the tribunal observed.

Out of the total compensation of Rs 24.90 lakh, the tribunal directed that Rs 60,000 each be paid to the two sons, while the remaining amount was awarded to the deceased’s 45-year-old widow, Dipali Angre.

The tribunal also directed the vehicle owner and the insurer, Generali Central Insurance Co. Ltd. (formerly Future Generali Insurance Co. Ltd.), to jointly and severally pay the compensation along with 7.5 per cent annual interest from the date of filing of the claim petition until its realisation.

Accident Due To Negligent Driving

Presiding over the matter, MACT Chairperson Monica I. Arland held that the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the autorickshaw, rejecting the insurer’s contention that the deceased was responsible for the mishap.

According to the claim petition, the accident took place on August 16, 2016, at around 5.45 am on Nehru Road near Phatak College, Santacruz (East). Dilip Mukund Angre was walking to his workplace when the autorickshaw allegedly lost control, overturned and struck him from behind. He sustained severe head injuries and was taken to KEM Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries later the same day.

A Vakola Police FIR was registered, and the driver was subsequently charge-sheeted under the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act.

Insurance Defence Rejected

The tribunal also rejected the insurer’s contention that there had been a breach of the insurance policy because the driver allegedly did not possess a valid driving licence.

It observed that the insurance company had failed to produce substantive evidence from the licensing authority to establish that the driver did not hold a valid licence on the date of the accident. The tribunal held that mere correspondence and notices sent by the insurer were insufficient to prove a breach of the policy conditions.

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While computing the compensation, the tribunal accepted evidence showing that the deceased was employed as a Junior Attendant with Taj Sats Air Catering Ltd. and was earning Rs 37,205.96 per month.

It applied the appropriate multiplier after considering his age of 58 years and awarded compensation under various heads, including loss of dependency, consortium, funeral expenses and loss of estate.

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