The National Lok Adalat held in Pune on May 9 resulted in the settlement of 51 motor accident claim cases, with compensation totaling Rs 8.09 crore awarded to claimants. Among these, a single settlement of Rs 1.08 crore was granted to the family of a man who died in a road accident.
Details of the Lok Adalat Proceedings
A total of 100 matters were listed for settlement during the Lok Adalat. One panel was headed by BD Kulkarni, with advocate Atul Gunjal serving as a panel member. Another panel, comprising JG Dorle as the head and advocate Radhuji Thorat as a panel member, also amicably resolved several cases.
Major Settlements
The largest settlement involved compensation of Rs 1.08 crore awarded to the family of a man, identified as Madhav (name changed), who died after a dumper allegedly hit his two-wheeler in April 2024 in central Pune. His dependents approached the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in 2024, seeking compensation from the dumper owner and the insurer.
According to counsel associated with the case, the deceased was earning approximately Rs 70,000 per month and was the sole earning member of his family. The Lok Adalat order recorded that the insurance company would pay Rs 1.08 crore to the claimants under a compromise settlement. The tribunal directed the insurer to deposit the amount within one month.
In another settlement, the parties amicably resolved a motor accident compensation claim for Rs 42.50 lakh involving claimants Sharda Singh and others against an insurance company and other respondents. Additionally, a claim was settled for Rs 52.50 lakh in a matter involving a vehicle owner and the insurance company.
Other Settlements
The remaining 48 cases were settled for various amounts, contributing to the total compensation of Rs 8.09 crore. The Lok Adalat provided an efficient platform for dispute resolution, saving time and costs for all parties involved.
About the Author: Kanwardeep Singh, an MBA and a journalist by accident, writes on crime against women, health, and wildlife for TOI. Digging deeper for informational writing and piquing interest of readers are his USP.
