The Hindu : Front Page : Parents of boy seek compensation

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Parents of boy seek compensation

Mohamed Imranullah S.

The boy was crushed to death when roof of his school building collapsed two years back
Parents approach Court against delay in disbursing monetary compensation

MADURAI: Parents of a four-year-old boy, who was crushed to death when the tin roof of his school building here collapsed two years back, has approached the Madras High Court against delay in disbursing monetary compensation.

Disposing of their writ petition filed in the Madurai Bench, Justice G. Rajasuria directed the Home Secretary to consider their plea in the light of the recommendation made by the Collector and pass appropriate orders within two months.

S. Sethuramalingam of Tirupparankundram near here said that his elder son S. Sriram (since dead) was admitted to Kindergarten class in a private nursery and primary school in his locality in 2006. The school charged an annual fee of Rs. 1,250.

On July 4, 2006, a helper in the school informed his wife that her son had met with a small accident and was admitted at a private hospital. She was not told the real cause of the accident and the boy was shifted to a Government hospital.

The four-year-old succumbed to injuries after a few hours despite attempts made by doctors. Only after that, the parents came to know that the boy was injured when a pillar holding the roof gave way while he was taking lunch.

The police registered a case under Sections 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code and arrested the school authorities, who were subsequently released on bail.

In the meantime, the then Collector, on July 13, recommended to the Government payment of adequate compensation to the family from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Two years had passed since then, but no fruitful action was taken, the petitioner said.

He also claimed that it was the duty of the officials to ensure the safety of school children and to make periodical inspections in private schools to ascertain durability of buildings.

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