By: Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar: Authorities have re-notified the Jammu & Kashmir Road Accident Victim Fund-2019 as the Jammu and Kashmir Road Accident Victim Fund Rules-2022.
According to an order issued by the Transport Department, the funds will be specially used for payment of ex-gratia relief to the victims of road accidents in Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. “The objective of the fund is to introduce a welfare scheme so as to provide immediate succor to the dependents/ kith and kins/ legal heirs of the persons killed injured in road accidents of passenger cum private vehicles including the vehicles owned by government corporation/public sector undertaking, etc.,” reads the order, a copy of which is with The Precious Kashmir.
As per rules, a committee headed by the concerned Deputy Commissioner will sanction relief for road accident victims. “However, the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district is authorized for disbursement off immediate interim relief not more than 50% of the ex-gratia relief rules entitled under these to the legal heirs/dependents/kith and kins of the accident victims subject to proper verification,” reads the order.
The interim relief paid by DC shall be placed before the committee for its approval at the time of final sanction of ex-gratia relief, the rules state.
Under the scheme guidelines, Rs one lakh shall be payable to dependents in case of death, Rs 75000 in case of permanent disability, Rs 50000in case of grievous injuries and Rs 10000 for minor injury.
As per rules, a corpus fund of Rs one crore shall be created in the Transport Department for the purpose of providing relief to dependents of persons killed/ injured in road accidents.
“A minimum amount of Rs one crore shall be drawn out of the corpus fund created by the Director Finance/ FA&CAO,Transport Department for its further transfer in the bank account of the transport commissioner. Out of Rs one crore, Transport Commissioner shall retain Rs 50 lakh and transfer the amount of Rs 50 lakh to the deputy commissioners as per requisition based on need assessment,” the rules further state.