Thane MACT Orders ₹12 Lakh Compensation for Jawhar Resident Injured by State-Run Ambulance | FPJ
Thane: The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane has directed the District Health Officer of Thane Zilla Parishad (TZP) to pay ₹12 lakh compensation to a resident of Jawhar, who sustained severe injuries after being hit by a state-owned ambulance in 2018.
The Tribunal, however, rejected the complainant’s demand for lifelong compensation at ₹35,000 per month, citing that the claimed 50 per cent disability was not proven. Instead, the court awarded the amount towards medical expenses and compensation for the pain and suffering caused to the victim.
The case pertains to an incident that took place on April 11, 2018, at around 11:30 pm at Pachbatti Naka in Jawhar. The victim, Fakruddin Mulla (43), was sitting with his friends on a manora (raised platform) built by the Gram Panchayat, located in the middle of the road.
At the time, the ambulance belonging to the Thane Zilla Parishad was returning to its station after dropping off a patient at the Jawhar Sub-District Health Centre. The vehicle, which was travelling down a slope, hit Mulla while he was seated on the manora, resulting in severe injuries and multiple fractures.
Mulla was first treated at Kutir Hospital in Jawhar and later shifted to Hinduja Healthcare Hospital in Khar (West), Mumbai, where he was admitted to the ICU. Medical reports confirmed serious fractures and other injuries.
Following this, a criminal case was registered against the ambulance driver, and Mulla filed a claim petition against the Thane Zilla Parishad, citing rash and negligent driving.
The Thane Zilla Parishad, however, denied the allegations of negligence. The TZP’s legal team claimed that the ambulance was being driven slowly on the steep slope at Pachbatti Chowk, where traffic congestion was high. The manora built by the Gram Panchayat obstructed visibility, and the driver allegedly could not see Mulla sitting on it. TZP maintained that the incident was unavoidable, and the driver was not at fault.
After hearing both sides, the MACT concluded that the state-run ambulance was liable for the injuries caused to Mulla. While the tribunal did not accept Mulla’s claim for lifelong compensation based on a 50 per cent disability, it recognised the physical and mental trauma caused to the victim.
The tribunal ordered District Health Officer of Thane Zilla Parishad (TZP) to pay ₹12 lakh to Mulla, covering his medical treatment costs and compensation for pain, suffering, and hardship caused due to the incident.
