Years after tragedy, still waiting for justice

CHANDIGARH: Swarn Singh, who fought for others in his teens, himself cries for justice today but all in vain.
Nobody is here to help him. Four years have lapsed since a road mishap in Moga took away the life of his younger brother and left him handicapped.
Despite court orders, the transport company involved has not paid any compensation money, which he needs desperately.
Swarn Singh mutters while trying hard to compose himself, "I never knew that road to justice was full of hurdles, even if you have law on your side."
Recollecting the unfortunate incident he narrated, "On July 12, 2001, I and my younger brother, Akhil were going back to our hometown, Ferozpur on the motorcycle.
A bus of Sewak Transport Company coming from the wrong side rammed into our bike. The bumper ripped open Akhil''s right side leading to his death on the spot.
I was rushed to the hospital as my right knee was crushed, the lower leg almost detached, ribs were broken, foot was fractured and the right upper arm suffered serious injuries.
Since then I have been operated upon five times at PGI Chandigarh and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi."
Swarn Singh was pursuing graduation in Geology from the Punjab University ...
...and his brother was in class XII in Government College, Mohali.
He filed a case for compensation from the Sewak Transport Company, based in Moga, in 2002.
Singh added, "On September 4, 2003, the local courts awarded compensation of Rs 3.60 lakh from the transport company but the amount was never paid resulting in the filing of execution petition."
Acting on the same, the courts issued warrants of attachment and directed bailiff on March 19, 2005 to attach movable property and return the warrants on or before April 16.
Armed with warrants, Singh with bailiff went to Moga on March 24 for attaching the transport company''s bus (PB 29C 9144). But the driver and conductor of the bus ran away with the bus.
A FIR had been registered on the application of court''s bailiff, forwarded by Chief Judicial Magistrate, on March 24 at Moga city police station under Sections 353, 186, 506 and 34 of the IPC.
He produced a certified copy of FIR in the court of District Sessions Court, Chandigarh on April 16 and urged for the cancellation of route permit of the tranpoart company.
The transport company in return refused to take the notice and the advocate appeared before the court on April 30. He said that the transport company owners didn''t know about the accident as they had purchased the company after the accident.
They asked for time till May 14 to file the reply. The next hearing has been scheduled for May 21.
"I met to the Director General of Police SS Virk ...
...and told him that the transport company was selling its busses at higher agreement to Jhujjar Passenger Private Company Limited, Ludhiana, which was also their sister company, to escape from paying any compensation." He further added.
Singh who is jobless has already spent lakhs of rupees for his treatment.
His leg had acquired serious infection after operations and was told it would have to be amputated.
Thereafter, he went to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi for the operation. He anticipates that he may have to undergo further operation if the infection worsens.