Times
of India: Kochi: Friday, 02 October 2015.
The relatives
of Fort Kochi boat tragedy victims have not yet received documents required to
file a suit for compensation.
Though they
have submitted RTI applications seeking documents regarding the ill-fated boat,
authorities, including the Kochi corporation, police, Cochin Port Trust, ports
department and Oriental Insurance Company Ltd have not yet responded even after
a fortnight.
This has
given room to apprehension that authorities may be delaying it to 'manipulate'
documents.
According to
RTI activist advocate D B Binu, who has submitted an RTI application seeking
documents regarding the ferry and fishing boats involved in the accident,
authorities should have responded to the RTI application within 48 hours.
"As per
clauses in the RTI Act, a reply to the RTI application should be given within
48 hours if it affects the life and liberty of people. None of the authorities
have responded to the application by relatives," said Binu.
Though the
police gave a copy of the first investigation report (FIR) to Peter, father of
Sebastian Shilton who was killed in the accident, it is not enough to move
court for seeking adequate compensation from respondents.
"It has
been a fortnight since I gave the RTI application. Of all the documents sought,
I only got a copy of the FIR. But it doesn't even have important details like
the number of deaths," said Peter.
"Police
have not given copies of scene 'mahassar', autopsy report, deposition statements
of witnesses, etc.," he said.
A few days
ago, ADGP P Padmakumar, the officer probing the case, had held a meeting with
the relatives and locals as part of the investigation.
"At the
meeting, I took up the issue. The ADGP gave us assurance that he would ask the
Mattancherry police to provide all documents immediately. When the relatives
approached the police, they said they have not received any instructions in
this regard," said Hycinth, president, Mother Teresa Global Foundation,
and former councillor of Kochi corporation.
ADGP
Padmakumar told TOI that he would look in to the issue. "I had given the
assurance to relatives. I will check it now," he said.
While the
corporation has failed to provide the details of the agreement with the boat
operator, the ports department is delaying replies to queries on safety
measures in the boat and the names of officials who conducted inspections.
"We had
submitted an RTI application to Oriental Insurance Company, which is said to
have provided insurance coverage for the boat. But, they have not responded.
This underlines the allegations that authorities are taking time to forge
documents," Binu said.
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