Elderly Woman’s Eye Loss Lawsuit Results in Seizure of Government Vehicle
An elderly woman’s long legal battle for compensation after losing her left eye due to medical negligence has taken a surprising turn. The Scorpio SUV belonging to the Regional Divisional Officer (RDO) in Kanhangad has been seized by the court to reimburse 75-year-old Mallakkara Kamalakshi. The government had failed to fulfill its obligation despite a court decree in 2018 and subsequent dismissal of their appeal by the High Court of Kerala earlier this year.
Back in 1995, Kamalakshi suffered a severe loss when she underwent surgery at a government hospital. Despite the court ordering the government to pay her Rs 2.3 lakh plus interest in 2018, her lawyer, Manoj Kumar K, revealed that the compensation amount has now ballooned to approximately Rs 8 lakh. It appears that the government and its officials chose to challenge Kamalakshi rather than fulfilling their responsibilities.
The disappointing lack of action on the part of the district officials led to the attachment of the RDO’s Scorpio SUV. The vehicle will be put up for public auction to generate funds for Kamalakshi’s compensation. If the available amount falls short, her lawyer plans to request the court to seize another government vehicle.
In a previous attempt to avoid paying the owed amount, the government surrendered a depreciated Tata Spacio from the Health Department to the court instead. However, the outdated 10-seater SUV, which was more than 19 years old, received a valuation of only Rs 30,000 from the Motor Vehicle Department. Recognizing the futility of auctioning such an outdated vehicle, Kamalakshi’s lawyer explained their decision.
Meanwhile, the four-year-old Scorpio owned by the RDO will undergo evaluation by the Motor Vehicle Department on September 25th. There is still an opportunity for the government to fulfill its obligations and avoid further complications.
The case of Mallakkara Kamalakshi highlights the plight of individuals seeking justice for medical negligence. Despite the court’s mandate, the prolonged delay and legal battles faced by this elderly woman emphasize the need for a more efficient and compassionate system. As the court proceedings continue, it remains to be seen whether the government will step up and provide the compensation owed to Kamalakshi or if more government vehicles will be seized to fulfill the court’s order.
