Kochi: Expressing grave concern over the boat tragedy which claimed 22 lives on Monday in Malappuram's Tanur, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday initiated suo motu proceedings into the accident.
A division bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and Shoba Annamma Eapen opined that the tragic incident would not have occurred had the concerned authorities done their jobs by ensuring that tourist boats, such as the one involved in the Tanur accident, comply with safety standards, reports the Bar and Bench.
It also noted that while the government had acted swiftly in declaring that ₹10 lakh would be granted as compensation to the families of the victims, the authorities had a lot to answer for.
"Why are the officers concerned silent? ... One other thing is that every time we award compensation to victims, there is no clarity if that is taken from the public exchequer or if it was taken from the officers concerned," Justice Ramachandran said, reports Bar and Bench.
The bench also opined that without any intervention and change in the prevailing situation, many such incidents are likely to happen in the state.
How do we keep saying 'it is shocking, it is shocking, it is shocking' for every such incident? We are running out of words now," Justice Ramachandran said.
On Sunday evening, a pleasure boat at a local tourist destination at Tanur in Malappuram, carrying around 40 people, capsized leaving 22 dead and 10 others injured.
One of the reasons why the vacation bench of the court decided to take it up was due to the serious lapses on the part of the authorities, who failed to make the mandatory checks, with regards to the safety and security of the passengers.
The court asked the Port Officer for a detailed report into the accident even as it raised grave concerns over the tragic accident and wanted to know the reason for the accident.
On Monday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after reaching the accident place announced a judicial probe into the accident and asked to form a special team for it.
Meanwhile, as per unofficial reports, the ill-fated boat did not have proper registration documents and fitness certification.
While the boat owner Nassar is in police custody, the boat driver and his assistant managed to escape soon after the boat capsized. The police are on a lookout for the duo.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan arrived in Kozhikode this morning and visited the 10 people who are recovering at hospitals after being rescued. "I visited those in the hospital and was told all of them, including women and children, are recovering well," said Khan.
Now all eyes are on the High Court as three judicial commission reports of similar boat tragedies in the state had submitted their reports.