Mangalore, March 23: The families of victims who died in the tragic air crash that took place on May 22 last year, are still being troubled by Air India officials in conncection with the payment of compensation, President of Air Crash Victims' Families Association Muhammad Beary has alleged.
“Air India officials had assured that they will settle all the 158 claims within 3 months. But so far only 52 cases have been settled. The victims' families are not being served any notices while calling for settlement of the claims. They are being called over phone”, Beary has groused in a release.
Beary also pointed out that in case of pilot error, the compensation to be payed is much higher than the amount stipulated in the Montreal convention, which according to him, is not being done.He has also mentioned that a case in this regard has been filed in the Ernakulam High Court by one of the victims (18-10-2010).
“In case there are 3 or 4 deaths in a family, they insist to settle them together, thereby depriving the rights of victims' families to resort to any other judicial processes. In such cases they are paying less compensation for women and children of the deceased passengers. The value for the life of ladies and children is very meager in their eyes. They offer Rs 35 lakh and 25 lakh respectively discarding all the rules of the Montreal Convention.”, Beary has alleged.
The victims' families have now handed over their files to foreign legal experts for the redressal of their grievances and to get justice.
“Air India authorities do not appear to be following any norms while calling the victims' families over phone to settle the claims. Many poor and illiterate families have not been so far called for the negotiation meetings. Many of the families/ legal heirs are not happy with the way in which payment of compensation is being handled by Air India”, Beary has said.
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