KURNOOL: In a first, the Kurnool Lok Adalat awarded Rs 1.75 crore compensation to the family of victims who died in a road accident.
This is the highest amount awarded by the Lok Adalat so far, said Mr Nageswar Reddy, lawyer for the petitioner. The family had claimed a compensation of `5 crore, going by the age and annual income of the victim.
Petitioner C. Purnava-thi, the mother of the road accident victim, stated that her son and daughter-in-law had died in the road accident. Her son, C. Sudhakar, was working with Dell International Services India and drawing a salary of `12.7 lakh when he died. By the date of retirement, he would have been earning a salary of `30 lakh, Purnavathi contended.
She pointed out that her grandson had lost parental care and affection, since both his parents had died in the accident, thereby strengthening her contention for a compensation of `5 crore.
On March 27, 2015, Sudhakar and his wife Harika, belonging to Telugupeta in Sirivella village of Kurnool district, were returning from Chennai to Kadapa in a car.
At about 1 am on March 28, 2015, they had reached Isukapalli crossroad between Rajampeta and Kadapa. A lorry (AP 04 TT 8998) came from the wrong side at high speed and hit the car, killing both occupants.
She maintained that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the lorry driver.
Therefore, the owner and the insurance company, Shriram General Insurance, were jointly responsible and vicariously liable to pay compensation to the petitioners.
Earlier, AP Lokayukta Justice P. Lakshmana Reddy called upon the people to approach the institution at any time if they were facing injustice either from authorities or political representatives.
