Suo-Motu Takenup Pil WP v. The State Of Tamil Nadu,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 22.09.2023 CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR.SANJAY V.GANGAPURWALA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU 1.The State of Tamil Nadu, rep. by its Secretary, Transport Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.
2.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd., Pallavan Salai, Chennai-600 002.
.. Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to ensure that all the buildings of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations are immediately secured and repaired, those injured are provided with adequate treatment at the cost of the State/Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Limited and adequate compensation is provided to the legal heirs/dependents of the deceased and to those injured and further direct the respondents to submit the compliance report to the Hon'ble Court.
For the Respondents : Mrs.R.Anitha Spl. Government Pleader for respondent No.1 : Mr.C.Senapathi for respondent No.2
ORDER
(Order of the court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Upon attention being drawn to several newspaper reports reporting the incident of roof collapse causing the death of eight employees, including two drivers of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, this Court took suo-motu cognizance and registered it as suo-motu public interest litigation for directions to the State of Tamil Nadu so also the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation to ensure that all the buildings are immediately secured and repaired, those injured are provided with adequate treatment at the cost of the State/Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Limited and adequate compensation is provided to those killed and to those others injured.
2. We had called for status report regarding the condition of the buildings of bus depots throughout the State and also the details of compensation paid.
3. It is submitted that Rs.9.00 lakh compensation is paid to the family members of each of the deceased. Rs.1.75 lakh each is paid to persons who sustained grievous injury, and Rs.75,000/- each is paid to persons who sustained simple injury.
4. The details of the stability certificates issued by the Chartered Engineer (Civil) regarding the bus depots have been filed along with the status report. The details of compensation disbursed is also given in the status report. The structural stability certificates have been issued in respect of almost all the bus depots throughout the State.
5. It is submitted by learned Special Government Pleader that now all the buildings are inspected periodically and general repairs
are carried out.
6. The undertaking is also given in the status report that in future also inspection will be done frequently and if any issue arises, it will be addressed immediately. All efforts would be taken to avoid such unfortunate incident in future.
7. We hope and trust that the respondents will abide by their undertaking given on affidavit and shall supervise and inspect periodically the buildings of the bus depots and take remedial measures immediately so that such unfortunate incident propelling this Court to take suo-motu cognizance is avoided.
8. With these observations, the writ petition stands disposed of. There will be no order as to costs.
(S.V.G., CJ.) (P.D.A., J.) 22.09.2023 Index :
Yes/No Yes/No bbr
To:
1.The Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Transport Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.
2.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd., Pallavan Salai, Chennai-600 002.
THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND P.D.AUDIKESAVALU,J.
bbr 22.09.2023