Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been ordered by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) to pay Rs 19.52 lakh with seven per cent interest since 2012, to a man who sustained 65 per cent permanent disability after being hit by a PMC ambulance. 

Sambhaji Baban Khaire of Katraj had filed the petition. He worked as machine operator-cum-carpenter with a furniture making firm. 

The accident took place around 5.30 pm on October 1, 2009. Khaire was crossing the road in front of PMT depot on Shankarsheth Road, Swargate, when an ambulance belonging to the PMC hit him. The driver Raghunath Bhoir fled from the spot in an ambulance. 

Khaire sustained grievous injuries and was admitted in hospital for four months. He was operated on his head and right jaw. It resulted in a loss of memory and the right side of the body is paralysed. He is unable to do anything, the petition stated.

At the time of the accident, Khaire was 31 years old and earned Rs 12,500 per month. He moved the MACT demanding Rs 60 lakh compensation from the driver and PMC which owned the ambulance. 

The vehicle was not insured. 

However, the driver took the  defence that Khaire himself was responsible as he had jumped BRT railing and hit the ambulance. The driver said he has been acquitted in the rash driving case.

However, the MACT relied on police spot panchnama which stated that there was pedestrian crossing where the accident took place.   SM Menjoge, an Additional Member of the MACT, directed the PMC and its driver to pay the compensation amount of Rs 19.52 lakhs with seven percent interest since filing of the claim petition in March 2012.