Date:04/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/04/stories/2009070453680300.htm

Tamil Nadu

‘Truck travellers cannot get compensation’

Staff Correspondent

TRAVEL TRAVAILS: P. Ayyasamy, Additional District Judge and Fast Track Court Judge, Pudukottai, addressing a legal awareness campaign in Neduvasal.

PUDUKOTTAI: Passengers on board a load carrier involved in a road mishap are not eligible for any compensation as per the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. Unaware of this fact, people preferred mass transport by goods or non-passenger vehicles as a low-cost affair.

People, especially labourers and villagers, should be sensitised to the importance of the rule for ensuring safety to their lives and also members of their families, observed Additional District Judge and Judge of the Fast Track Court, Pudukottai, P. Ayyasamy.

Presiding over the ‘Legal awareness campaign for rural masses’ organised jointly by the District Legal Services Authority, Alankudi Taluk Legal Services Committee and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation at Neduvasal villlage near here recently,

Mr. Ayyasamy said that compensation for the victims in a road mishap would be permissible only to those possessing a driving licence and related documents for the vehicle. In the case of mass transport of people, except the owner of the vehicle with the required documents, none of the other victims could get any monetary compensation.

He said that the Authority had been organising a series of awareness campaigns in rural areas with a view to sensitising the masses about its services in ensuring justice on genuine grounds to the aggrieved.

Neither poverty nor ignorance should be a barrier to a person seeking justice. He also explained the services being offered through the mediation centres for resolving family disputes amicably.

Mr. Ayyasamy highlighted the special awareness camps being organised in parts of the district under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to benefit the villagers. These camps ensured that the workers got proper wages without any exploitation.

Sub-ordinate Judge and secretary of the Authority, C. Kuppusamy, Judicial Magistrate and Chairman of the Committee R. Malathi spoke on the rights of children and women.