Compensation Delay to Accident Victim: Coimbatore Court Orders Seizure of Five TNSTC Buses

Coimbatore: A Coimbatore court on Thursday ordered the seizure of five government buses after the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) failed to pay compensation awarded to the family of a man who died in a road accident several years ago.

The case dates back to February 4, 2019, when Pattusamy (34), a resident of Pachapalayam in Coimbatore, was travelling on a scooter with two friends near a mill at Kalampalayam. The scooter was hit by a government bus, leaving all three seriously injured. Pattusamy later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Following his death, his family approached the Fourth Additional Sessions Court in Coimbatore seeking compensation. In 2021, the court directed the TNSTC to pay ₹26.51 lakh to the family.

However, the compensation was not paid despite the court’s order. The family subsequently approached the court again, seeking execution of the order and payment of the compensation along with accrued interest. The amount due had since risen to around ₹40 lakh.

With the transport corporation yet to comply with the compensation order, Judge Maheswari Banureka ordered the seizure of five government buses on Thursday.

Following the court’s direction, buses operating from different parts of Coimbatore, including the Coimbatore Railway Station area, and services bound for Kanuvai, Kalipalayam and Periyanaickenpalayam, among other destinations, were seized and brought to the area opposite the Race Course police station.

The seizure disrupted bus services in the area and led to traffic congestion. Several passengers who were unaware of the court action were left waiting for their services and had to make alternative arrangements to reach their destinations.