NHRC asks Government of Odisha to pay Rs.3 lakh in a case of death of a student caused due to negligence in a Government school (25.9.2014)

PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, 25th September, 2014

The National Human Rights Commission has recommended that the Government of Odisha pay Rs.3 lakh in a case of death of Soni Pradhan, aged 7, a student of class second in Uttarhana, UGME School, District Puri, Odisha, when a big almirah fell on her in the class room on the 29th July, 2013. The Chief Secretary of the State has been asked to submit compliance report along with the proof of payment within six weeks.

During the course of enquiry, it was revealed that at the time of incident, the recess was on and the Children were playing behind the rack of plywood. The class teacher was engaged in distribution of mid-day meal when suddenly the rack fell on Soni. Parents of the girl took her for treatment at the local hospital from where she was referred to SCB Medical College, Cuttack where she succumbed to her injuries on the 2nd August, 2013.

In response to its notices, the Commission also found that the State authorities had accepted it to be an accident and said that all possible steps for providing medical treatment to the victim were taken and even the Headmaster, SMC Members and the teachers had spent Rs.8 thousand on her treatment. The District Education Officer, Puri, was asked to enquire into the matter and fix the responsibility in the case of negligence. It was found that the Headmaster had been shifted out from the school.

The Commission observed that the girl had suffered injuries in the classroom while she was under the care and custody of the Government school. The death of the girl had caused irreparable loss to her family for which the State must bear the liability. Therefore, it recommended Rs.3 lakh as monetary relief to be paid to the next of kin of the deceased.

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