Social activist and BJP leader Srikanta Padhi moved the NHRC seeking justice to the families of eight poor Surat migrants who were unfortunately killed in a tragic bus accident on September 6 near Raipur in Chhattisgarh while they were returning to Surat to earn their livelihood.
Padhi approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take appropriate legal action under the relevant provisions of law like IPC,MV ACT, negligence of duty against both Surat and Bhanjanagar(Ganjam) RTOs to provide justice to the families of the poor migrant workers of Ganjam. Padhy also demanded exemplary action against the district Collector of Ganjam for his reported negligence in the matter.
The petitioner has also alleged that, the bus in which these migrant workers were travelling did not have a fitness certificate as well as other mandatory documents.
He also demanded for payment of Rs 20 lakh compensation to the next kin of each deceased and Rs 5 lakh to those who were injured in the tragic incident along with free medical treatment to them.
The local authorities in Chattisgarh during their investigation have unearthed the fact that, the bus in which these migrant workers were travelling did not have a fitness certificate and the fitness certificate that was produced before the investigating team on the spot of the incident, hasexpired since May 7, 2019 while the insurance of the vehicle too expired since September 25, 2019.
The investigating team further unmasked the fact that, the road tax was not paid by the owner of the vehicle after September 30, 2018, the petitioner revealed.
Padhi also alleged that, the bus was carrying more than 72 migrant passengers which was above the permissible limits.