KOCHI: The High Court, which ruled that the compensation cannot be reduced on the ground that the victim of an accident is a housewife, has increased the compensation amount by four times. Justice Devan Ramachandran issued the remarkable verdict in a petition filed by Palakkad native Kalukkutty (61), who fell off a KSRTC bus and was seriously injured after the driver pressed the brakes negligently.

The court increased the compensation from Rs 40,214 to Rs 1.64 lakh. The petitioner is bedridden due to the accident that took place on August 24, 2006. The Irinjalakuda Road Accident Compensation Tribunal had fixed the compensation at Rs 40,214. However, the petitioner moved the High Court stating that the compensation should be increased as a large amount was spent on the treatment.

KSRTC had argued that a small amount is sufficient for the petitioner, who has no income and is only a housewife. It also pointed out that the petitioner did not clarify that she suffered a serious loss. However, the High Court found this argument to be disgusting and unfair.