# Delhi Tribunal Grants 67.4 Lakh Compensation to Kin of Passenger Killed While Stepping Off Bus

> The Delhi Motor Accident Claims Tribunal has ordered an insurance company to pay roughly 67.4 lakh rupees to the family of 41-year-old Nain Singh Bisht after the driver suddenly accelerated.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Delhi · **Published:** 2026-10-08 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/delhi/mahipalpur-men-chalati-basa-se-girakara-jana-gnvane-vale-yatri-ke-parijanon-ko-67-4-lakha-ka-muavaja-45006 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Delhi MACT, Road Accident, Compensation Ruling, Mahipalpur, Oriental Insurance

In a major ruling regarding public transport accountability, the Delhi Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has directed the payment of approximately 67.4 lakh rupees in compensation to the surviving family members of 41-year-old Nain Singh Bisht. The tribunal held the commercial bus driver directly responsible for the fatal incident due to reckless and speedy driving, while categorically rejecting the insurer's arguments that sought to place blame on the victim.

## Midnight Collision Near Mahipalpur on National Highway
According to the official claim placed before the tribunal, the fatal accident took place on May 14, 2025, at around 2 am. Nain Singh Bisht was attempting to disembark from a passenger bus on National Highway 48 (NH-48) near the Mahipalpur stretch in South Delhi. While he was in the process of stepping down, the bus driver, who had initially slowed the vehicle, abruptly pressed the accelerator. The sudden forward jerk threw Bisht off balance, causing him to fall onto the asphalt road. Before he could recover, the left rear wheel of the heavy vehicle ran directly over him, inflicting catastrophic injuries that resulted in his death. Following the collision, an FIR was registered with the Vasant Kunj South police station. Presiding Officer Shirish Agarwal finalized the comprehensive verdict in an order dated September 23.

## Insurer Arguments Dismissed by the Bench
During the tribunal proceedings, Oriental Insurance Company Limited resisted the compensation claim by asserting that the victim had engaged in contributory negligence. The insurer maintained that Bisht chose to exit a moving vehicle at a location that was not an authorized, designated bus stop. Furthermore, the company raised objections regarding documentation, alleging that the bus driver was operating without a valid driving license and that the vehicle lacked a proper route permit. The tribunal dismissed each of these assertions after examining the evidentiary records, noting that both the driving license of the operator and the fitness certificate of the bus were properly documented and legally valid on the date of the mishap.

## No Contributory Negligence Attributed to Victim
The presiding officer held that even if a driver accedes to a commuter's request to alight closer to home at an unscheduled stopping place, the commuter cannot be penalized or blamed for the eventual mishap. The court emphasized that a passenger cannot be expected to foresee bodily harm simply by alighting when the driver has slowed down. The bench noted that had the driver brought the bus to a complete halt and avoided accelerating mid-exit, the fatality would have been avoided. Crucial testimony from an eyewitness substantiated that the vehicle was in the final stage of coming to a stop, proving that Bisht intended to exit safely, only to be thrown under the wheels when the driver prematurely accelerated.

## Apportionment of the Compensation Award
The tribunal held the driver, the vehicle owner, and the insurance firm jointly liable for the claim, while formally directing Oriental Insurance Company Limited to deposit the full sum. The compensation amount of approximately 67.4 lakh rupees encompasses interest, loss of financial dependency, loss of consortium, property damages, and funeral costs. Nain Singh Bisht is survived by his wife, Haru Devi Bisht, three daughters, and one son. Under the structured distribution mandate, the presiding officer ordered that 60 percent of the award be disbursed to the widow, while each of the four children will receive a 10 percent share.

## What this means for you
This judgment reinforces public transit accountability by barring insurers from evading liability when drivers accelerate prematurely before commuters fully disembark.

- **Across India:** The ruling establishes that alighting near one's destination outside a designated bus stop does not constitute contributory negligence if the driver agreed to halt. Claimants across the country gain stronger legal protection against insurance companies attempting to diminish settlement sums.
- **In Delhi:** Commuters utilizing late-night buses along corridors like NH-48 receive legal backing ensuring passenger safety remains the driver's duty. The decision confirms that local tribunals will scrutinize eyewitness accounts to protect vulnerable commuters.
- **For Dependents:** The deceased passenger's family is awarded a sum of roughly 67.4 lakh rupees to offset dependency loss. The court structured the disbursement so the widow obtains 60 percent while the four children share the remaining 40 percent equally.
- **For Commercial Drivers:** Bus operators are put on clear notice that premature acceleration carries direct legal culpability. Valid licenses and vehicle fitness certificates do not shield operators from liability when negligent driving causes fatal harm.

## Why this happened
The fatal incident occurred late at night on May 14, 2025, when a bus driver failed to keep the vehicle completely stationary while a passenger was stepping out. The tribunal verified through eyewitness testimony that abrupt acceleration was the sole proximate cause of the death.

- **Premature Acceleration:** The driver slowed the vehicle to let the passenger off but depressed the accelerator before the passenger was safely on the pavement. The sudden momentum threw the passenger underneath the left rear wheel.
- **Incomplete Halt:** An eyewitness confirmed in court that the bus was in the terminal stages of coming to a halt when the speed was suddenly raised. The lack of patience on the driver's part directly triggered the fatal fall.
- **Absence of Contributory Fault:** The court concluded the victim could not reasonably foresee the hazard of premature acceleration simply by alighting at a non-designated spot. The failure to maintain standard driving safety rested exclusively with the commercial vehicle driver.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. How much compensation did the Delhi MACT award to the family?
The tribunal awarded approximately 67.4 lakh rupees to the family of the deceased victim, Nain Singh Bisht.

### 2. When and where did this bus accident take place?
The fatal incident occurred on May 14, 2025, around 2 am near Mahipalpur on NH-48 in South Delhi.

### 3. What caused the fatal injuries to the passenger?
The bus driver accelerated suddenly while Bisht was stepping down, causing him to fall under the vehicle's left rear wheel.

### 4. What defenses did Oriental Insurance Company Limited raise?
The insurer argued the victim was negligent for exiting at an unauthorized stop and alleged the driver lacked a valid license and permit.

### 5. Why did the tribunal reject the insurer's claims of negligence?
Records proved the license and vehicle fitness were valid, and the court held the passenger could not foresee the driver's sudden acceleration.

### 6. How will the 67.4 lakh compensation amount be distributed?
The widow will receive 60 percent of the compensation award, while each of their four children will receive 10 percent.

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