Chennai: The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Chennai has ordered a whooping compensation of Rs 2.61 crore to women family members of a 47-year of old Singapore-based electrical officer, who was crushed to death along with his wife, in a road accident five years ago.
The mishap took place when he was returning from Singapore and proceeding to his native village in Cuddalore district in 2012.
In the petition, A Semmalar, 28, of Poochimdu village, Cuddalore, submitted that her father D. Arul Oli was working as an electrical officer, NYK Ship Management Private Ltd, Singapore.
He was earning $4910 (approximately Rs 2.70 lakh) per month. Her mother A. Vasuki, 38, was working as a tailor and earning Rs 15,000 per month.
On January 6, 2012, he was returning to the native village from Singapore. After reaching Chennai airport he was proceeding to Cuddalore along with his wife in a Qualis van at 6.15 a.m. A container lorry was driven by its driver in a rash and negligent manner on national highway-45. The driver parked the vehicle in a no-parking zone near Acharapakkam toll plaza.
The van rammed into the container lorry. She said “my parents sustained fatal injuries on their head, abdomen and all over their bodies. They died on the spot instantly”. Acharapakkam police registered a case. One petition was filed by Semmalar and D. Kasiammal, mother of Arul Oli, and another petition by Semmalar and A. Muniammal, mother of Vasuki, seeking a compensation of Rs 3.10 crore.
Counsel for the petitioners M.K. Vijayarajan contended that the family members depended on the income of the deceased. The accident was caused solely due to the negligence of the container lorry driver, V. Anantharaman of Sendur, Tindinvanam taluk. Hence, the owner of the vehicle and United India Insurance Company the insurer of the container lorry, liable to pay a compensation to the petitioners. Small Causes Court, chief judge, V. Sivagnanam, has directed the United India Insurance Company to pay a compensation of Rs 2.61 crore along with an interest of 7.5 percent per annum from November 28, 2012, to the petitioners. Of the total compensation – Rs 2.50 crore would be paid to Semmalar, Rs 10 lakh to Kasiammal, Rs 1.38 lakh to Muniammal.
