By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Wednesday ordered that interim compensation will have to be given by Blueline owners to victim’s family in case of an accident.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar ordered that the Blueline owners will have to pay Rs.100,000 as interim compensation to victims’ families in case of fatal accidents and Rs.50,000 to those with grievous injuries or permanent disability as the result of a mishap.
This order will also be applicable on Delhi Transport Corporation and state carriage buses.
The bench viewed the interim scheme as a humanitarian move to provide sustenance in the form of financial assistance for Blueline victims and their families during the time the bus owner is tried in court.
The case was heard after the High Court, in July 2007, took suo motu cognizance of the increasing number of fatalities involving Blueline buses.
The bench said the Blueline bus would immediately be impounded after such an accident and released by the metropolitan magistrate only after the owner pays interim compensation.
The magistrate will take the deposit from the Blueline owner at the time of the release and hand over the compensation amount to the victim or the family.
To receive the amount, the victim or his/her family will give a written undertaking in the court to file a motor accidents claim case in the special tribunal for a final decree on the compensation amount.
The amount given by the magistrate is only for immediate help to the victims – the final compensation will be given through the insurance claim on the vehicle as ordered by the tribunal.
The amount provided as interim compensation will later be adjusted with the final amount of compensation as ordered by the special tribunal.
The insurance company will reimburse the interim compensation given by the bus owner to him after the tribunal passes its final orders.
The government assured the court that they are thinking of adopting this scheme across the country.