Anupama’s parents get Rs13.5 lakh relief from PGI

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 11

The parents of 16-year-old Anupama, who died at the PGI following an accident in 2012, finally had a sigh of relief with the institute director issuing a demand draft for the balance payment of compensation awarded to them by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi.

The demand draft for Rs 13,50,000 was handed over to their counsel, Pankaj Chandgothia, by the PGI counsel here today.

Anupama’s family was awarded a total compensation of Rs 20 lakh, including Rs 17 lakh from the PGI and Rs 3 lakh from the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU). While her parents had already received Rs 3 lakh from the CTU, Rs 3,50,000 was already deposited by the PGI with the commission in April 2013 as per its earlier orders and will be released on the next date of hearing, July 31 this year, set for compliance.

Chandgothia clarified that the amount would be released along with bank fixed deposit interest from April 2013.

Anupama’s father Amit Sarkar said they were satisfied with the compensation amount but no amount of compensation could fill the void created in their lives with the death of their daughter.

In April 2013, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, had ordered the PGI and the CTU to pay Rs 7 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, respectively, to Anupama’s parents.

It was contended by Chandgothia that Anupama was the only daughter and her parents were rendered childless due to the negligence of the PGI. The external inquiry conducted by the PGI, in its report submitted in August 2012, reported that Anupama should have been given priority for the operation.

In May this year, a national commission Bench comprising Justice VB Gupta and Dr Suresh Chandra had ordered that Anupama’s parents were entitled to a total compensation of Rs 20 lakh instead of the Rs 10 lakh awarded by the state commission.

The national commission had raised the compensation by Rs 10 lakh in addition to Rs 7 lakh granted against the PGI by the state commission.

Case background

Anupama, a 16-year-old schoolgirl, died as a result of negligence and delay on the part of the PGI authorities in treating her after she suffered a leg fracture when crushed under a CTU bus. The accident took place on July 17, 2012, following which she was taken to the PGI’s Advanced Trauma Centre and was to be operated upon immediately. However, the operation was delayed and Anupama developed gangrene and sepsis, which ultimately led to the amputation of her leg on July 20, 2012. She went into a shock during the operation and never recovered. She died at the PGI on July 24.

Panel had awarded Rs 20 lakh compensation to family

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi, had awarded a total compensation of Rs 20 lakh, including Rs 17 lakh from the PGI and Rs 3 lakh from the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU), to Anupama’s family. While her parents had already received Rs 3 lakh from the CTU, Rs 3,50,000 was already deposited by the PGI with the commission in April 2013.