Road accident case: NHRC asks Haryana Govt. to pay Rs three lakhs compensation

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended the Haryana Government through its Chief Secretary to pay Rs three lakhs as monetary relief to the next of kin of deceased, who lost their lives after their motorcycle fell down from a broken road bridge into a drain on March 16, 2013.

Arvind, aged 21 and Gaurav, aged 20, who died when their motorcycle fell down from a broken road bridge into a drain on the 16th March, 2013.

This NHRC notice comes in the backdrop of the Haryana Police, Public Works Department (PWD) and Irrigation Department continuing to pass on the responsibility to each other.

The deceased 21-year-old Arvind and 20-year-old Gaurav were students of Engineering College, Aurangabad, Palwal, Haryana.

The chief secretary has been asked to submit compliance report along with the proof of payment within six weeks.

The direction came after the NHRC received no requisite reply to the final reminder on its show cause notice as to why Rs three lakhs as monetary relief should not be paid to the next of kin of the two deceased, who became victims of carelessness of the state authorities.

The Haryana Police had in its response to the NHRC's notice said that the police department did not have any provision to pay monetary relief of Rs three lakhs to the next of kin of the deceased.

The PWD said that the case related to the construction of a new culvert in Palwal District by the Irrigation Department and the Engineer-in-Chief of the Department had already been requested to prepare a reply to the notice.

The Commission has observed that the accident had occurred due to the negligence of the state authorities, who did not repair the broken road bridge.

It also observed that subsequent to its notices, the police had taken action only against the Contractor, who was arrested under Section 279/304 A of the IPC and not against the concerned engineer, who was also responsible for the same, and hence the state had to bear the liability.