Date:18/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/18/stories/2006071817570300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

SETC scrambles, clears dues

Staff Reporter

Action follows court direction to attach office property

Court officials take way belongings from the State Express Transport Corporation office following a court order for attaching the Corporation property. They stopped after the SETC officials paid money to a litigant — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI: State Express Transport Corporation authorities paid out compensation to accident victims in pending cases after the small causes court directed the attachment of the Corporation's office property on Monday.

The petitioners along with court officials reached the SETC office around 1.30 p.m. and started removing chairs and other office property. Authorities intervened and cheques for nearly Rs. 6 lakh were handed over to six petitioners.

According to their lawyer G. Karthikeyan, the Corporation kept delaying the payment citing financial constraints. The accident involving a JJTC bus (later renamed as SETC) and a tanker lorry carrying acid near Sunguvarchatram in 1995 led to the death of more than 30 persons.