Chennai: A court in the city has directed State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) to pay a compensation of Rs 43.40 lakh to the family of a 22-year-old systems engineer who was run over by a SETC bus on East Coast Road near Marakkanam three years ago.
The direction was given by the principal special court set up under the Essential Commodities and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (EC and NDPS Act), Chennai, Lakshmi of Vadapalani submitted that her son V. Sesank, 22, was working as a senior system engineer in Cognizant (P) Ltd., Chennai, and earning '37,000 per month. Her family depended on his income.
At about 7 pm August 16, 2016, he was travelling as a pillion rider on a motorcycle on ECR when a SETC bus (TN01 N 8025, proceeding to Puducherry from Chennai, rammed into the two-wheeler. The impact threw Sesank down, and the bus ran over him. Sesank sustained grievous injuries and died in a hospital, she said. The Marakkanam police registered a case.
The petitioner said the accident occurred due to negligence of the bus driver and held the SETC managing director liable to pay a compensation of Rs 1 crore.
The SETC MD stated that the motorcyclist hit a car and was thrown on the road. The left wheel of the bus ran over Sesank. The accident due to the negligence of the motorcycle rider, he said. The bus driver was observing traffic rules and following rules. Therefore, the petition was liable to be dismissed, the MD stated.
On conclusion of the trial, principal special judge K. Ayyappan said considering the oral and documentary evidence, the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the bus driver. He held the SETC MD liable to pay a compensation of Rs 43,40,153 to Sesank’s family.
