In yet another case of death of a schoolchild due to negligent attitude of school authorities, the Orissa High Court on Thursday directed the State Government to pay compensation to the father of the deceased. This time, the court has asked to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh.
Deciding a writ petition filed by one Madhav Soren
of Keonjhar district, a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice S
Muralidhar directed the Government to pay the compensation amount to the petitioner for the death of his seven-year-old daughter nine years ago.
Madhav’s daughter Raimati was studying in Class-I at the
Kolhabeda Ashram School under Ghasipura block of Keonjhar district.
She was staying in the Ashram hostel.On October 3, 2013 morning, a portion of a newly-constructed kitchen wall caved in on Raimati and
some other students.
While others managed to escape, Raimati was critically injured. She was rushed to a nearby Community Health Centre (CHC), where she was declared brought dead by doctors.
Subsequent inquiries revealed that the wall was constructed illegally without a foundation. Instead of cement, mud was used to fix the bricks. “The responsibility of the death of the young child definitely rests with the State,” the High Court observed.
Basing on several similar judgments of the Supreme Court and other judgments of the Orissa High Court, the Bench of the Chief Justice held that a clear case has been made out for grant of compensation by the Government for violation of Constitutional right to life of the school kid.