Mangalore Air Crash - Victims' Families Decide to Approach Supreme Court
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Sep 14: Feeling humiliated and harassed, Mangalore Air India Crash Victims Families Association has decided to appeal to the Supreme Court (SC) against a decision of Kerala High Court (HC).
It may be recalled that a single-judge bench of Kerala HC, based on a petition filed by the association, had ordered Air India to pay compensation at the rate of Rs 75 lac per victim relating the above crash. Air India had questioned this decision in the division bench of the HC. The division bench not only stayed operation of the single-judge bench order, but also asked the victims to find a solution to the problem by entering into a process of dialogue with Air India. Aggrieved by the order, the association is thinking of approaching SC.
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A meeting of victims of the crash is being held at Sahodaya Hall in the city at 11.30 am on September 18, for discussing the above decision. The meeting is proposed to be organized to hold detailed discussions on the pros and cons, cost, etc of approaching the SC, before taking a final decision.
At the same time, 55 affected persons relating to the said crash have decided to undertake legal battle to get justifiable compensation for the air crash victims at the international level. Initially, the representatives of victims have held two rounds of discussions with the London-based insurance company, and the company has invited them for a third round of discussions. These victims have been told by lawyers from a Swedish law firm, who are representing the victims in these discussions, that the discussions so far have been quite favourable to the affected people. If the discussions fail, the relatives of victims have the option of approaching the International Court of Arbiteration.
Mohammed Beary, president of the association, feels that Air India had the onus of settling justifiable compensation amount honourably. He said that the association is left with no other option but to approach Supreme Court and International Court, as Air India has failed in discharging its duty properly.
As per insurance rules, the victims say, that they have the option of claiming relief through the International Court if the tragedy had occurred because of negligence of the pilot, or technical fault in the aircraft. As it is proved that pilot error was the reason for Mangalore air crash, the report of the investigation team that has held the pilot guilty of error of judgment in landing the flight, will come in handy for the victims to claim compensation through the said court, they claim.