New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS): The Delhi Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has awarded over Rs. 40 lakh in compensation to the family of a senior executive killed in a road accident here in December 2012, observing the officer had a future ahead of him.

MACT Hudge Arun Bhardwaj directed ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd., with which the car that hit Gauri Shankar Jha was insured, to pay over Rs.42 lakh as compensation to his wife.

The judgment was delivered Friday, but a detailed order arrived the next day.

The claimants deposed before the tribunal that Gauri Shankar Jha and his colleague Ajit Kumar Jha while repairing his punctured motorcycle in Dabri Dec 5, 2012, were hit by a car that was being driven in a rash and negligent manner.

Ajit Kumar Jha was employed in the same company as an accounts assistant.

The accident caused fatal injuries leading to Gauri Shankar Jha's death. He was posted as a senior executive at the time of his death.

The man was only 39 years of age at the time of accident and was earning over Rs.21,000 per month.

The judge noted that Gauri Shankar Jha was in permanent employment, and his salary was increasing every year. According to his widow, in the year 1998 he was employed on a salary of Rs.2,400 per month, which gradually increased and reached to over Rs.2.76 lakh per year.

"Since his age was less than 40 years, claimants are entitled to a compensation of 50 percent for loss of future prospects. Hence, total compensation payable to the claimants would be Rs.42,97,545 which shall be payable with interest at the rate of 7.5 percent per annum from the date of filing of this petition till its realization," ordered the tribunal.

The tribunal also awarded over Rs.1.28 lakh to Ajit Kumar Jha, as a compensation amount.