Plane crash victims’ kin to file cases in Mangalore civil court

Plane crash victims’ kin to file cases in Mangalore civil court

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May20, 2012: Families of the victims of the Mangalore plan crash of 2010, who are not happy about the compensation they received from Air India (AI), are planning to file cases in a Mangalore civil court. 

Mohammed Beary, president of the Mangalore Air Crash Victims’ Families Association, told reporters that 5 – 6 families are likely to file cases.
The Dubai to Mangalore Air India Express overshot the tabletop runway in Mangalore Airport and plunged into Kenjar Valley early in the morning of May 22, 2010, killing 158 of its passengers and crew. Only 8 people managed to survive. 

Mr. Beary said that those not satisfied with the compensation received must file cases within 2 years of the crash according to the provisions of the Montreal convention.

 

 

Although several families are unhappy with the compensation received, most of them are unwilling to get into a legal battle with the AI. Some families were reluctant because they would have to pay a stamp duty of Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh depending on the demanded compensation. 

Mr. Beary said that families that have not yet filed any application for compensation can do so before the second year of the accident. He also said that the Kerala High Court has suggested that victims’ kin can file cases in civil court for higher compensation.
In August 2011, the court ruled that AI must pay actual damages proved by claimants either in case of either death or injury. 

Mr. Beary also said that the association was exerting pressure on authorities concerned about building a monument for the deceased. A memorial bearing the names of all victims on black granite was raised at the site of the crash in Kenjar Valley, but unknown miscreants had vandalized it in Oct 2010. Mr. Beary said that AI was taking steps to construct a monument at Maravoor with the help of the local Gram Panchayat. 

The association will have a meeting on May 22, after which it plans to submit a memorandum to the N. S. Channappa Gowda, the deputy commissioner of DK, about protecting the mass grave in Panambur, where 12 unidentified plane crash victims were laid to rest. As no public function has been planned for May 22, the association will offer condolence during the meeting, Mr. Beary said.