The one-man committee established to fix compensation for the families of children who died in the Kumbakonam school fire has extended the deadline for submitting applications by a fortnight.
Speaking after a spot visit, the chairman and former High Court Judge, K. Venkatraman, agreed that the parents required adequate time to file proper documents along with the compensation revision petitions. Counsel for the parents had initially pleaded for extending the deadline by a month. The committee would consider further extension if the situation warranted, he said.
Only 10 applications received so farHe said that only 10 applications had so far been filed. The committee’s office was in Chennai; given the needs of the affected people, the Thanjavur district administration and the District Judge volunteered to arrange suitable space for the committee to function here itself. If the Madras High Court permitted, the committee could operate from here, he said.
On the quantum of compensation, Mr. Venkatraman said that though claims for as high as Rs. 30 lakh were filed, the committee would arrive at the suitable sum based on merit.
The judge also visited the site where once the Sri Krishna Aided Primary School, the Saraswathy Nursery School and the Sri Krishna Girls High School functioned on Kasiraman Street before the July 16, 2004 fire killed 94 children and caused grievous burns to 18 others.
After a long legal battle, a Thanjavur court on July 30 awarded Rs. 1 lakh for the dead and Rs. 50,000 for the injured. The parents of the victims wanted the compensation increased.
On their appeal, the High Court ordered the constitution of the committee.
