The Hindu : Rlys. simplifies procedure for accident claims

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 05, 2003

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National

Rlys. simplifies procedure for accident claims

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 4. The railways has further streamlined the procedure and come out with updated instructions to facilitate speedy settlement of accident and other untoward incident claims to provide quicker relief to the affected.

Claiming that the Railway Claims Tribunal disposed of 1968 cases of accident and untoward incident during 2002-2003 and that 8105 claims cases were pending as on April 30, 2003, the railways said several steps had been taken for speedy disposal of passengers claims through 21 benches of the claim tribunals spread over 18 major cities.

Instructions have been issued to all Zonal Railways that as soon as a passenger train accident or untoward incident takes place, all particulars of injured and killed be obtained, claim application forms sent to claimants and the record be made available to the bench of the tribunal.

After the claims are filed and put up for hearing, the railways is required to give all assistance to the tribunal for speedy settlement. Zonal railways is also required to file written statements in such cases within 15 days of receipt of notice from the tribunal.

Besides, Zonal Railways has been asked to ensure delivery of cheques within 15 days of decree by the tribunal.

In this connection, prior finance concurrence in respect of the accident compensation claims cases have been dispensed with. The Chief Claims Officers have been empowered to satisfy the decree of accident compensation claims up to Rs. 4 lakhs.

An applicant can file claims at the Railway Claims Tribunal Bench having jurisdiction over his place of residence or the place where the passenger purchases his ticket or where the accident or untoward incident occurs or where the place of destination station lies, as against only at the place of occurrence of accident earlier.

Outer limit for adjournments for each case applications before the Railway Claims Tribunal has been restricted to three. The Railway Claims Tribunal is also required to pass final orders within 21 days of final hearing. One copy of orders of the tribunal is supplied free to the applicant within three days of the final orders.

An affidavit filed before the tribunal can be affirmed before the Registrar or the Assistant Registrar or the Additional Registrar of the tribunal of an advocate, judicial officer or notary.

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