South Central Railway officials are likely to move the Supreme Court over the Railway Tribunal’s orders to pay compensation to victims in 463 accident cases at one go.
Already, their pleas challenging the Tribunal’s orders were dismissed by a single judge of the High Court here and later an appeal by a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan. Sources in SCR said the officials were preferring an appeal on the ground that the Tribunal orders are incapable of implementation.
In their petition, sources maintained, the officials are likely to cite the matters and orders related to Patna Bench of Railway Claims Tribunal as another ground. The orders relating to compensation given by this Tribunal are now under the scanner of the Supreme Court as allegations of corruptions were raised on some of the matters.
Referring to payment of compensation to victims in 463 cases in one go, the authorities reportedly said that there were practical problems like identification of the kin and genuine legal heirs of the victims. However, the Tribunal and the HC refrained from passing orders in such instances of doubtful claims.
The SCR officials did not file a statutory appeal in the matter for which they would have to deposit half the amount awarded as compensation to the families of victims. Instead, they filed a writ petition before the HC challenging the Tribunal order.
Dismissing the SCR plea, the Division Bench appreciated that the Tribunal had shown some resolve to end the prolonged litigation and extend justice to the kin of the victims. However, it is said the SCR officials were of the view that the Tribunal order propels them to be adjudicators to ascertain who were the genuine legal heirs of the victims.
In this backdrop, sources said the SCR authorities finally decided to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court.
