Accident victims to be paid ex-gratia in J

Srinagar, May 21: Concerned over the increasing number of deaths in road accidents, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to charge a monthly fee of Rs ten to Rs 200 from all commercial vehicles to compensate the accident victims.

The Jammu and Kashmir cabinet has decided to charge Rs 20 from a taxi, Rs 50 from a light vehicle and Rs 100 from buses, trucks and other heavy vehicles per month from now onwards.

The vehicle owners can pay the fee every month or yearly, state Chief Secretary B R Kundal told reporters here today.

However, he said, the three wheelers and vehicles of security forces would be exempted from the fee.

In reply to a question he said, the vehicles of other states, including those carrying tourists, would not be charged this fee since they are paying entry tax.

But, he said, buses and trucks of State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) would be charged the fee.

Briefing reporters here today, Mr Kundal said the cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad last night expressed concern over the increasing number of road accidents in the state.

He said the cabinet, besides, deciding to charge the fees from the vehicle owners, has decided to train drivers and conductors.

The Cabinet decided to make the driver and conductors aware about the traffic laws to avoid the accidents, he said.

In reply to a question the chief secretary said the cabinet decided to pay Rs one lakh each in fatal accident case.

However, compensation to injured will depend upon the nature of injury, he said, adding, the critically wounded will be paid Rs 50,000 and others Rs 20,000.

Responding to another question, he said earlier there was no provision to pay compensation to accident victims. However, the government was paying Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 from Red-cross and other funds.

UNI