TN govt files appeal against sessions court verdict

Tamil Nadu government today filed an appeal before the Madras High Court against an order of the District and Sessions Court Judge in Thanjavur acquitting 11 persons in connection with the fire accident at Kumbhakonam which claimed the lives 94 students on July 16, 2004.
The Sessions Court on July 30 convicted 10 persons and acquitted 11 others in the fire tragedy.
State Public Prosecutor, who filed the appeal, submitted that the trial court had acquitted three teachers on the ground that they had not aware that the materials available near the noon meal scheme centre in the school would catch fire.

He said the accused teachers had kept the children near the noon meal kitchen, where the braided coconut leaves had been stored. They should have taken precautions.
The judge acquitted some officials on the ground that they were only holding additional charge of the inspection work. "If they had inspected the school properly and noticed the defects, the accident could have been avoided", he told the court.
Education officials concerned had not done periodical visits to the school and the noon meal centre. If they had noticed the noon meal centre near the class room, they would have taken precautions and given instructions to the school authorities to shift them.

They also failed to discharge their duty and remove inflammable items near the class rooms to avoid the mishap. Engineer Jayachandran had given stability certificate without properly visiting the school and verifying the plan, the government pleader submitted.

Education Department officials G Mahadevan and Balasubramanian had given approval to the school without verifying the school complex and rectifying the defects in the building during 2003-06.
The trial court should have relied on the evidences adduced by prosecution against the acquitted persons.
Justice Manikumar and Justice V S Ravi admitted appeal for hearing.