School to pay Rs 10 lakh for girl’s death

The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (SCDRF) has held a school in Selaiyur responsible for causing the death of a girl child owing to its negligence and deficiency in not maintaining the vehicle properly, directed it to pay Rs.10 lakhs as compensation to the girl’s family.

SCDRF presiding Judicial Member J Jayaram and member P Bakiyavathi have held, “We feel that the award of Rs.10 lakh compensation will be just and reasonable for the negligence and deficiency in service on part of the school and the consequent death of the child and the mental agony and suffering of the girl’s parents.” 

Advocate Vasugiramanan appearing on behalf of the girl’s father had submitted that on July 25, 2012, E Sruthi, a Class II student, travelled back home in her school bus which had a big hole. She was made to sit on a wooden board kept to cover the hole. When it took a U-turn, the child fell into the hole and was run over by the same bus. 

While it was the bounden duty of the school to take all measures to ensure the safety of children, it had grossly failed to maintain the bus and put the children to undue risk, Bakiyavathi. 

The school had maintained that the three school buses including the ill-fated one were operated on lease and therefore could not be held responsible or liable for the incident.