Chennai: The Madras High Court has directed the Motor Accident Claims Tribunals in the state to release all the 450 TNSTC buses attached for want of payment to claimants involved in various accidents, on condition that the transport corporations pay 25 per cent of the compensation amount on or before 28 November.

Passing these orders last week, the Court said, “By keeping the buses in the court’s custody, the claimants are not able to get the compensation and the transport corporations are also put to loss. Consequently, the travelling public is put to untold hardships.” In the affidavits filed by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, it was mentioned that Deepavali was fast approaching and there was a need to operate more buses to cater to the passengers. The corporation had submitted that 450 of its buses have been attached by various Motor Accident Claims Tribunals for non-payment of award amounts.