It will be held every day to meet Supreme Court stipulated deadline of 6 months
Eight years after 94 children were killed in a fire at the Kumbakonam Krishna School, trial of the case commenced on Monday at the Thanjavur District and Sessions Court here. Eighteen persons were injured in the July 16, 2004 fire.
On the inaugural day of the trial, all 21 accused but Devi were present. Devi did not attend on medical grounds. G. Saravanan, Judge, said the trial would be held every day and efforts would be made to complete the case in six months as stipulated by the Supreme Court.
School headmaster Prabhakaran turned an approver. Government counsel Madusudanan objected to the headmaster turning an approver and filed an objection plea, but the judge rejected it. Charges had been framed on September 10 and cases registered against the accused under section 304 IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) section 120 B conspiracy and violation of Private Schools Act and Municipality Act.
The proceedings of the case began at the Kumbakonam Judicial Magistrate Court which committed it to the Thanjavur District and Sessions court in 2006. The then district judge Zafarullah Khan heard the case but transferred it to a fast track court. Judge of the Fast Track Court Muthusamy heard the case but did not pass orders as he retired. The case went back to the District and Sessions Court. Meanwhile, a petition was filed with the District and Sessions Court, seeking discharge of the prime accused and the correspondent of the school Pulavar Palanisamy and five others. The District Judge dismissed the discharge petition. The advocate filed a revision petition in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
At this stage, yet another accused filed a discharge petition in Supreme Court, which last month directed the Sessions Court to hear the case quickly and pass orders.
I will not be surprised to see 1000 rs fine for everyone accused and 3 months of prison. Poor Law enforcement, Poor judiciary processes.
justice delayed is justice denied.
Its laughable for a future super power stuck in this kind of embarrassing situation. Just imagine how much time its going to take for the following cases.
1. Kolkotta hospital tragedy.
2. Padma seshadri school boy drowning.
3. Zion school bus case.
4. Jeppiar college case.
5. Tamilnadu express fire case.
and so on.
Its so shameful.
its shame, even after 6 yrs no one has the guts to give a fair judgment :(
This case is a good example of how our judicial system fails to manifest the rule of law by its
tortuosity and delays. No doubt the failures of the law and order machinery of the executive
also are equally responsible. Will anything less than a radical restructuring bring about the
rule of law which is as cardinal to democracy as the ballot box?
I don't understand how a government and judiciary can drag its feet when comes to provide justice to its citizens. Also don't understand how the people (citizens) don't mind this callous attitude of their govt and judiciary. The media too doesn't seem to highlight the lack of progress in the lawsuit filed against the culprits for their willful and blind negligence to provide safety to school kids. Should I be happy that at least the judiciary seems to do something after 8 years? When would the people (of India) realize their misfortune of having such a negligent bureaucracy
When the Kolkatta hospital fire tragedy occurred, I was curious to know to state of this case. I searched online and couldn't see any trial judgement or what happened after the hearings began. Now I get to learn the sordid truth.I am shocked and appalled to see that the criminal case of one of India worst fire tragedy is yet to proceed even after 8 years. If the judicial cases proceed at this pace, how will a common man repose his faith in this institution?
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