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Madras HC dismisses TNSTC appeal, enhances compensation awarded to road accident victim
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Madras HC dismisses TNSTC appeal, enhances compensation awarded to road accident victim

MADURAI: Observing that the high court has to award fair and reasonable compensation in road accident cases even in the absence of any appeal by the victims seeking enhancement of compensation, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court increased recently the compensation awarded by Motor Accident Claims. Srivilliputhur Court to the family of a 36-year-old man, who died after being hit by a government bus in 2015.

Justice Sunder Mohan made the decision while dismissing an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) – Madurai division against an order passed by the court directing it to pay compensation of Rs 14.34 lakh to the family. of the late Muthukumar. A perusal of the high court order revealed that Muthukumar, a painter, was run over by a government bus while trying to board it on May 18, 2015.

Although the court concluded that the accident occurred due to the negligence of the bus driver, the TNSTC denied the involvement of the bus. He further stated that the deceased had stolen a mobile phone and while trying to escape from a mob that was pursuing him for the theft, he suffered injuries which caused his death.

However, Justice Mohan refused to interfere with the court’s conclusion. He noted that the bus driver had stated in his complaint that the deceased had been hit by the bus, but had then taken a contradictory stance denying the involvement of the bus when testifying in court. Although the victim’s family had not filed an appeal seeking an increase in compensation, the judge modified the compensation amount in accordance with the Supreme Court guidelines, thereby increasing it by Rs 3.48 lakh.