Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has awarded damages to the tune of Rs 2.35 crore to the legal heirs of two Amarnath pilgrims killed in the crash of a state-owned helicopter in 2003.
A bench of the commission headed by Justice (Retd) G D Sharma and member Shabnum Munshi yesterday directed the state government and a private travel agency to pay the damages to the legal heirs of Vineet Kedia and his wife, who were killed in the crash. The crash took place on August 5, 2003, killing pilot Group Captain J S Kehlon and four Amarnath pilgrims including the Kedia couple. The state-owned Bell 407 helicopter was completely damaged in the crash. Kehlon was also the Civil Aviation Commissioner of the state government.
The complaint was filed before the Commission by R K Jajodia, maternal grandfather of two minor sons of the Kedias. "The award is made against the state government, the present Civil Aviation department of the state government and M/S Nidesh Tours and Travels which was engaged unauthorisedly as booking agent for the copter sorties by the deceased pilot in his capacity as Civil Aviation Commissioner," the commission said in the order, adding the liability shall be joint. In case of non-payment of the award amount within two months, interest shall be chargeable at the rate of six per cent per annum till the liability is liquidated.
The Commission also directed the state Chief Secretary to constitute a Committee of experts to enquire into the crash and submit a report to the Commission within four months. It also asked the committee to submit recommendations for taking suitable legal action against the delinquents functionaries within the "four corners of law".
"As some of the delinquent functionaries are responsible for this crash and after their identification in the enquiry, the state government is authorised to recover the amount of the award from their pay or pension as the case may be," it said.
PTI