Overview
- Justices Makarand S. Karnik and Shriram M. Modak passed the order on February 24, 2026, allowing Sunita Bapu Jagtap’s writ petition.
- MSRTC must pay the remaining Rs 45 lakh within eight weeks after adjusting Rs 5 lakh already disbursed, with 6% annual interest if delayed.
- The court set aside MSRTC’s rejection letters from January 21, 2022, March 5, 2022, and March 2, 2023.
- Relying on Government Resolutions of May 29, 2020 and May 14, 2021, and an MSRTC circular of June 1, 2020, the court held supervisory field staff faced the same risk as drivers and conductors.
- The deceased, Bapu Jagtap, supervised traffic at BEST’s Wadala depot from March 24–28, 2021, tested COVID-positive on April 5, and died on April 7, 2021, of COVID-related pneumonia in Yevala, Nashik district.