HC asks BMTC to pay Rs 35L as compensation to family of girl who died in 2015 scooter- bus collision
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has directed the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to pay the family of an engineering student who died in a bus accident in 2015 Rs 35,53,400 with 6 per cent annual interest as compensation.
The compensation amount exceeds what was awarded initially by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which directed BMTC to pay the victim’s family Rs 20,46,400.
On November 12, 2015, 20-year-old Mary Sindhu, an Engineering student, was traveling on a scooter as pillion rider when a speeding BMTC bus collided with the two-wheeler near PES College in Konappana Agrahara. While both Mary and Yogesh, who was riding the scooter, sustained injuries in the accident, Mary died at the Sparsh Hospital on November 15 after undergoing four days of treatment.
Mary’s parents Christy Babu and Mary Franchana and her brother CB Denis demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh from the BMTC, stating that Mary, who was studying in her seventh semester of Civil Engineering had been earning Rs 30,000 monthly. As BMTC challenged this, putting forth the argument that both parties were responsible for the accident, the Tribunal directed the Corporation to pay a compensation amount of Rs 15,07,000 with 9 per cent interest on November 28, 2016.
The accident victim’s family filed a plea in the High Court, arguing that the scooty was travelling at moderate speed and the bus driver was at fault for the accident. They also highlighted Sindhu's academic potential and that her future earnings were likely to be Rs 50,000-60,000 a month at a multi-national corporation.
The BMTC defended the bus driver in the High Court too, alleging police collusion with the claimants. The transport corporation also questioned in court the validity of the scooter rider's licence.
The division bench of Justice KS Mudagal and Justice Vijayakumar A Patil, who heard the case, noted from the evidence that the driver of the BMTC bus had reached the accident spot at high speed and a major portion of the bus crossed the scooter and its left side near the rear door hit the two-wheeler, resulting in the accident. The eyewitness, Yogesh Kumar, also deposed that the accident was due to the negligence of the bus driver, the judges added.
Also noting that the deceased girl was about to complete her engineering course and taking into consideration her academic excellence, the bench said that it would be justice to reassess the income of the deceased at Rs 22,000 per month.
An appeal filed by BMTC against the Tribunal's award was rejected by the HC.
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BJP vows to return to power in 2028 in Karnataka, attacks Cong at executive committee meet
Bengaluru (PTI): BJP leaders on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Karnataka and exuded confidence that the party would return to power in the 2028 Assembly elections.
The opposition party in Karnataka also passed four resolutions at its state executive committee meeting at the Palace Grounds here. It includes rampant corruption in the state, misuse of government funds, growing drug menace, agrarian problem and the garbage crisis in Bengaluru.
The party also hailed the Centre for introducing Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The executive committee welcomed the Centre's decision to give respect to 'Vande Mataram' song.
Addressing the meeting, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra alleged there was "zero development" in the state and claimed discontent within the ruling party.
"Let us work day and night to restore the BJP’s past glory in Karnataka," Vijayendra said, adding, "A situation has arisen where even MLAs of the ruling party may revolt against the government."
He alleged that law and order had completely deteriorated under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state and referred to murders in Surathkal and Yellapur, claiming no compensation had been provided to the families of a Dalit woman in Yellapur and a Dalit man in Koppal.
He further alleged that Mysuru had become a narcotics hub and recalled the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl during Dasara in the Chief Minister’s home district.
Vijayendra urged party workers to gear up for a series of upcoming elections, including local body polls, GBA elections and Assembly bypolls, and called for grassroots mobilisation to highlight the failures of the Congress government.
Inaugurating the meeting, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, "This is not merely an organisational meeting but a meeting for introspection."
He described it as a gathering to strengthen the organisation and resolve to remove the corrupt government from power.
Expressing confidence about the party’s prospects, he said the BJP would form the government in Karnataka in 2028 with an overwhelming majority.
He criticised the Congress for the Emergency and alleged that the state had become "corrupt and financially bankrupt", referring to scandals, including MUDA. He also claimed there had been infighting over the Chief Minister’s post from the beginning and that public debt had risen sharply.
BJP National General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agarwal said the party's victory in the 2028 Assembly elections was certain and objected to alleged attempts to curb RSS activities in the state.
He accused the government of favouring minorities over Scheduled Castes and termed it a "corrupt government".
Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who was felicitated for completing 50 years in active politics, called upon party workers to resolve to bring the BJP back to power "on our own strength" and to "uproot the corrupt Congress government".
Former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said it was Yediyurappa who had brought the BJP to power in Karnataka for the first time in South India and praised his role in strengthening the party.
Several senior leaders, including Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, Shobha Karandlaje and V Somanna, and other state leaders were present at the meeting.
