Chennai: A 36-year-old woman, who sustained injuries to the spinal cord in a road accident, causing paralysis in both her legs and leaving her bed-ridden, was awarded Rs 90 lakh as compensation in the mega national Lok Adalat conducted in Chennai on Saturday.
Ponmalar Lakshmi’s case was one of nearly 15 lakh cases, involving motor accidents, service matters, debt recovery and consumer cases, that were settled for Rs 1,390 crore in the Lok Adalat. Based on the directions of the National Legal Services Authority, the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority (TNSLA) conducted this mega national Lok Adalat in the state.
Ponmalar, who was residing in Guduvancherry along with her husband, a businessman, was working as a deputy manager in a private limited company and earning Rs 42,000 per month.
On April 25, 2013, her life took a terrible turn. She was travelling in a rented Qualis car, insured with the Cholamandalam General Insurance Company, from Chennai to Trichy, when it hit the centre median.
The accident had her suffer paraplegia (paralysis of the lower half of the body with involvement of both legs due to injury to the spinal cord), permanent disability and confinement to the bed.
In June 2013, she filed a petition before the Small Causes Court, claiming Rs 1.50 crore as compensation, the matter pending ever since.
The matter was finally referred to the Lok Adalat. According to L. Mohan Rao, counsel for the petitioner, he and N Vijayaraghavan, counsel for the insurance company, held negotiations in the presence of Principal Judge Gokuldoss, Small Causes Court, and arrived at a settlement of Rs 90 lakh as compensation.
The award was passed in the Lok Adalat and the insurance company issued the cheque. Justice Satish K. Agnihotri, executive chairman of TNSLA, handed it over to victim’s husband S. Raja.
