By IANS
New Delhi : Coming down heavily on Blueline buses, the Delhi High Court Monday told owners of the ‘killer buses’ to first deposit the compensation for the accident victims and their families before seeking release of their impounded vehicles.
A division bench headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal asked bus operators to pay compensation of Rs.100,000 each for fatalities, Rs.50,000 each for grievous injuries and Rs.25,000 each for minor injuries caused by their buses.
Dealing with the application of about 10 bus operators seeking release of their impounded buses, the court said the buses would be released only after the payment of compensation.
“Pay the compensation and then the court would order the release of the buses,” said the court emphatically, reminding the owners that the death toll in accidents in the city had crossed 100 so far this year.
The amount would be deducted from the amount finally awarded by the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT) courts, the high court said.
“We are not inclined to release the buses without these conditions. If you agree, tell us; otherwise argue your case on Monday,” said the court, adjourning the matter till Monday.
“It’s becoming shocking day by day and cannot get worse than this,” the bench said, referring to the frequent accidents by these privately owned buses.
The capital has over 4,000 Blueline buses, which form a crucial part of the city’s public transport system.