Mangalore : Air India Disburses Compensation Cheques for Rs One Crore
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje

Mangalore, May 28 (DHNS) : Air India has distributed a total of 12 cheques worth Rs one crore as interim compensation to the kin of victims who died in the Air India Express IX-812 air crash last week. 

Cheques were distributed after document verification by the Mulla & Mulla and Craigie Blunt & Caroe, advocates appointed by the Air India for the relatives of the victims, at Hotel Ocean Pearl here on Friday. A team of six advocates led by H D Nanavati carried out the process. Of the 25 claimants, compensation cheques were distributed to kin of 12 dead, including eight victims above the age of 12 years and four children.

Speaking after handing over a cheque to one of the relatives on Friday, Air India Executive Director (Southern Region) Sunil Kishan said that it is for the first time in the history that the Air India is distributing interim compensation to victims. He said the process of counselling, receiving applications and distribution of interim compensation will continue on Saturday. “Advocates will be back in town on another date if the process is not completed on Saturday,” he added.

Talking about the confusion over the check-list of documents required for filing  compensation and insurance claims, Kishan said advocates do not insist on relatives submitting the death certificate to claim interim compensation. “Some documents are required only for the insurance claim. Those sought in the checklist will be of use for the relatives in future too,” he explained.

Relatives of victims of above 12 years age were paid Rs 10 lakh as interim compensation. Meanwhile, kin of victims below 12 years were paid Rs five lakh. Air India PRO Ebi George said the document verification and counselling process will continue till late night so that the applications of all the 45 claimants will be verified. The process is expected to be completed by Saturday evening, he added. Air India Executive Director (Finance) B Kundra, Chief Operating Officer Andy D’Souza, General Manager 

Dispute over claim by estranged wife

As Air India and advocates from Mulla & Mulla and Craigie Blunt & Caroe were doing their best to distribute the interim compensation to the kin of victims, conflicts arose between two families for the claims. 

Zeenath (29), wife of Abdul Rahman of Vijayanagara Extension in Chikmagalur, who died in the air crash came forward to claim the compensation. However, Rahman’s brothers opposed it pointing out that Rahman had divorced Zeenath as per Shariat law. Zeenath, who was living separate from Rahman, had also sought divorce in the court. Advocates as well as Air India authorities were in a fix as both parties were claiming the compensation.

Rahman and Zeenath, who were married at Chikmagalur in October 1999, have a son Tahsir (10) and a daughter Thansheer (7). The couple lived together till 2004. When Rahman went to Dubai, her parents took her to their home.

Zeenath had filed a dowry harassment case against Rahman when he was holidaying in his native place in 2008. Rahman’s brother Azeez argued that if the amount was handed over to Zeenath, she will marry again and ruin the children’s future.

Zeenath’s brother Shameem claimed that she was taken to her parental home when Rahman left for Dubai, as Rahman and his relatives were harassing her. A petition seeking alimony is pending in the court. Hence, the interim compensation should be paid to Zeenath only, he contended.

Several of the relatives of the dead could not meet the advocates on Friday. Though the Air India had decided to counsel relatives of 45 victims, about 100 thronged Hotel Ocean Pearl, where the counselling was conducted. Many had to return without meeting advocates.
Mohammed Musthaq and Jafarali Siddiq, relatives of Mumthaz, Iba Hazina, Mushin and Haifa, had reached the City to meet the advocates and to claim the interim compensation. Though they had brought all documents as per the check list, they could not meet the advocates.  

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