The Commission of Inquiry appointed by the Madras High Court to determine the quantum of compensation payable to the families of 94 children killed in the 2004 Kumbakonam school fire tragedy, has fixed Rs. 5 lakh as compensation payable to each of the parents / legal heirs of the victims.
The Justice K. Venkataraman Commission submitted in the report that the compensation had been arrived at based on the notional income (Rs. 30,000) prescribed by the Supreme Court in Kishan Gopal case.
“The annual contribution of the victims to their families if they were alive and working could be taken as Rs. 30,000. By applying the multiplier of 15, the amount of compensation could be fixed at Rs 4.5 lakh. A conventional amount of Rs. 50,000 has to be added and the total will be Rs. 5 lakh,” said K. Venkataraman, retired judge.
Noting that the compensation payable will carry interest rate at six per cent per annum from the date of filing claim before the Commission, the former judge said, “As regards victims Kowsalya, Mercy Angel Mery and B. Vijay who sustained serious injuries, this Commission is of the view that justice would prevail if each of them is paid Rs. 6 lakh as compensation.”
The Commission said that in the case of Kowsalya, who sustained 65 per cent disability and is pursuing Class XII, the State government could contribute for her further education at least up to bachelor’s degree, considering her poor economic back ground. As far as the other injured students are concerned, the Commission fixed Rs. 50,000 as just and fair compensation.
The entire amount shall be paid by the State which shall be later recovered from the school where the accident happened, education and municipal authorities, the noon meal organiser and cook who were working in the schools.
Taking the report on record, the First Bench of Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and M.M. Sundresh said, “The report shall be circulated to counsels for parties.” The Bench then listed the case for direction on April 29.
