Metropolitan Transport Corporation told to pay up Rs 6.3 lakh for death of woman
Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) authorities have been directed to pay Rs 6.3 lakh (Rs 6,38,860) as compensation for an accident that resulted in the death of 48-year-old V Dhanalakshmi due to negligent driving.
S Meenakshisundaram, chief judge, small causes court, passed orders on the matter. The incident occurred on October 25, 2008, when she was riding pillion with her son V Mohanasundaram on a two-wheeler.
They were going from T Nagar to Velachery along Velachery Main Road. When they were close to the junction near Five Furlong Road in Guindy, their vehicle was hit from behind by a bus which was driven in a rash and negligent manner.
Due to the collision, Dhanalakshmi sustained fatal injuries as she was sitting on the rear side of the vehicle while her son was in front. Pointing out that the accident was wholly due to the bus driver's fault, the judge ruled that the MTC was liable to pay compensation to the petitioners, namely M Veeraraghavan - husband, sons V Chandrasekaran and Mohanasundaram and their daughter V Jayanti Kumari.
While they had claimed compensation of Rs 8 lakh in their petition, their plea was partly allowed, with the judge granting an award of Rs 6.38 lakh at an interest of 7.5% per annum.
According to data revealed through RTI queries in 2011, MTC buses killed 651 people in 633 accidents on city roads in the last five years. As many as 143 people die every year due to accidents involving MTC buses while at least 11 people were killed in such accidents every month.