Kumbakonam school fire: Conviction of 7 suspended

The division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice VM Velumani set aside the conviction and sentence passed by the lower court in the case of Santhana Lakshmi, principal, Gajalakshmi, organizer noon meal, Jayachandran, engineer, R Balaji, DEO, Sivaprakasam PA, Dhandavan supervisor and Durairaj, DPE assistant. 

The bench modified the life sentence awarded to the school founder Palanisamy to one of period already undergone during investigation, trial and post-conviction and modified the fine amount to Rs 1.16 lakh. 

While dismissing the appeal filed by Vasanthi, the cook, who was awarded five years of imprisonment by the trial court, the High Court, however, modified the sentence to one of the period already undergone. As many as 21 persons were accused and charged with offences under various sections of the IPC in the incident. Out of the 21, the trial court had acquitted 11 and convicted and sentenced the other 10, including Palanisamy, founder, Sri Krishna Matriculation School, to life imprisonment and his wife Saraswathi for a period of five years. As Sarawathi died during the period of appeal, the bench abated the charges against her. The judgment delivered reportedly runs to a total of 250 pages.