Fine for rule diversion
BENGALURU
The Karnataka High Court has strongly criticised the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) for allegedly suppressing facts and presenting contradictory arguments in a road accident compensation case. The court imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the corporation for what it termed an abuse of the judicial process.
A division bench comprising Justice Suraj Govindaraj and Justice Dr Chillakuru Sumalatha passed the order while hearing an appeal filed by KKRTC challenging the judgment of the Accident Compensation Tribunal.
The court observed that KKRTC had already admitted negligence on the part of its employees in internal disciplinary proceedings following the accident. The corporation had dismissed the contract driver involved in the accident from service and reduced the annual increment of the concerned manager. However, while contesting the compensation claim before the High Court, the corporation argued that the deceased victim was responsible for the accident.
Expressing strong displeasure, the bench stated that adopting one stand internally and another before the court amounted to duplicity and misuse of judicial proceedings. “On one hand, the corporation dismisses its employees after admitting fault, and on the other hand, it argues that the deceased was responsible. Such a double standard is illegal and unacceptable,” the bench observed.
The judges further remarked that litigants approaching courts are expected to come with clean hands and disclose all relevant facts truthfully. Suppressing information about disciplinary action already taken within the organisation and presenting misleading arguments before the court undermines the sanctity of the judiciary, the bench noted.
The High Court directed KKRTC to deposit Rs 25,000 with the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority. It also ordered that the fine amount be recovered from the officials responsible for filing the appeal and withholding material facts from the court.
In addition, the bench instructed the corporation to mandatorily disclose details of internal disciplinary proceedings in future accident compensation cases. The court further directed KKRTC Managing Director to issue an appropriate circular and constitute a separate review committee to prevent such contradictory positions in future litigation.
The court said the move was necessary to ensure transparency, accountability and fairness in legal proceedings involving public sector transport corporations.