Tribunal orders CTU to pay compensation to the kin of the deceased

The Motor Accidents Claim Tribunal (MACT) ordered the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) and the New India Assurance Company to pay a compensation of close to Rs 15 lakh to the kin of a 33-year old woman, who had died after her scooter had collided with a CTU bus.

On May 7, Sharmila Gupta was on her way to Sector 17 when she met with an accident with a local CTU bus. According to the victim's brother and witness, Subash Gupta, the bus hit his sister when the driver tried to overtake at a high speed. Sharmila had suffered head injuries and had died on the spot.

CTU, however, denied all the charges of negligence levelled against its driver. It claimed to the tribunal that the accident had taken place after Sharmila had tried to overtake the bus from the left side and her scooter skidded off the road.

The New India Assurance Company shook off its responsibility from the accident, alleging that the bus was running in violation to rules as the driver did not have a valid license nor did the bus have a valid route permit.

Timeline

July 17, 2012: 16-year-old Anupama succumbed to her injuries after her leg was crushed under the rear wheel of a CTU bus. She contracted Gas Gangrene during her three-day stay in the preoperative ward of the PGIMER which eventually led to her death.

Status: The state disputes redressal consumer commission had ordered CTU to pay Rs 3 lakh as compensation to Anupama's parents, while the national consumer commission New Delhi directed PGIMER to pay Rs 17 lakhs.

January 23, 2014: Rajni, a Class 12 student, was overrun by a speeding CTU bus near the parade ground.

Status: The accidents tribunal on November 20, 2014 had directed CTU to pay Rs 11.56 lakh as compensation along with 7.5 % interest to the family.

January, 2015: A medical camp was held where 125 CTU drivers out of the total 800 were examined. It was revealed that 76 drivers reported problems in seeing nearby objects, while 25 faced problems in seeing distant objects. The examination also showed that 24 drivers were using incorrect spectacles.