Court Seizes KKRTC Bus Over ₹55 Lakh Unpaid Compensation in Gangavathi

In a significant legal action, a court in Karnataka seized a KKRTC Bus in Gangavathi (Koppal) on Tuesday after the transport department failed to pay ₹55 lakh in compensation to the victims of a road accident for over five years.
Court officials, led by lawyers Govindaraju and Kavita, arrived at the Central Bus Stand and carried out the seizure. The bus, belonging to the Koppal unit, was taken into court custody by officials Yasuf Miya, Ramesh, Usman, Syed Khadar, and Venkatesh.
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Legal Action After Five Years of Delays
Speaking on the matter, lawyer Govindaraju explained that the court had ordered a ₹55 lakh compensation for the families of Suresh Basappa Hosur, who died in the accident, and Narasappa, who was injured.
- The case involves other injured victims, whose compensation claims are still pending in court.
- The transport department failed to comply with the court’s ruling within the specified time.
- As a result, the court ordered the seizure of a KKRTC vehicle to recover the unpaid compensation.
- If the amount is not paid on time, the seized bus will be auctioned.
- The court may seize additional vehicles if the full amount is not recovered.
2018: The Accident That Led to the Legal Battle
The case traces back to a road accident in 2018, which took place near the toll gate between Marali and Jangamara Kalgudi villages.
- Suresh Basappa Hosur (25), a resident of Jangamara Kalgudi village, died on the spot.
- Several others, including Narasappa Giddappa Mangalapur, Yamanoorappa Lingappa Balavanchi, and Hanumanth Kalgudi, suffered severe injuries.
- Following the tragic incident, Suresh’s family sought justice, leading to a court case against the transport department.
2019 Court Ruling and Compensation Order
In 2019, the Senior Civil Court in Gangavathi ruled in favor of the victims, directing the transport department to pay:
- ₹45 lakh to the family of deceased Suresh Basappa Hosur.
- ₹10 lakh to injured victim Narasappa.
Despite this clear ruling, for over five years, the transport department failed to make the payment, forcing the court to take strict action.
Court’s Final Decision: Seizure of KKRTC Bus
As the department continued to ignore the court’s order, the court directed officials to seize KKRTC assets to recover the unpaid amount.
- The bus was confiscated from the North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).
- If the compensation is not paid within the court’s deadline, the bus will be auctioned.
- If the full amount is not recovered, further vehicles will be seized until the debt is cleared.
This legal enforcement serves as a strong reminder that justice cannot be delayed indefinitely, and government agencies must honor court rulings.
Also Read: BEST Bus Accident Data: 88 Fatalities in 834 Accidents in 5 Years
Similar Incidents of Bus Seizure
Hubballi, July 2022
After a passenger who was traveling in a KSRTC bus died in an accident but the due compensation was not paid, the court staff confiscated an Airavat Bus and parked it in front of the Hubballi court as per the court warrant.
September 2024, Kalaburagi
A local court in Kalaburagi seized a bus owned by the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) after it failed to pay ₹34 lakh in compensation to a road accident victim’s family.
April 2022, Kancheepuram
The Kancheepuram court ordered the seizure of three TNSTC buses over unpaid compensation from a 4-year-old accident. Since the Transport Department had failed to pay the ₹1.17 crore compensation along with interest, the court took strict action and confiscated the government buses.