10 convicted in Kumbakonam school fire tragedy;11 acquitted

A local court today found guilty ten accused in the worst ever school fire tragedy at Kumbakonam that snuffed out the lives of 94 children a decade ago and awarded them varying terms of imprisonment, including life sentence to the prime accused.
The court, however, acquitted 11 other accused, a majority being government employees of the Education Department.
The Principal District and Sessions Court Judge Mohammed Ali, pronouncing the judgement in the packed court hall, said Palanisamy (A1), founder of the school, has been sentenced to life and a fine of Rs 47 lakh.
Palanisamy has also been awarded ten years rigorous imprisonment, the judge said adding that both the sentences would run concurrently.

Palanaisamy's wife Saraswathi, also Correspondent (administrator) of the school, Headmistress Santhalakshmi, noon meal organiser Vijayalakshmi and cook Vasanthi were sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment and a total fine of Rs 3.75 lakh imposed on them.
The court also sentenced five officials of the education department to varying terms of imprisonment.

While Jayachandran, Chartered Engineer was awarded two years RI under IPC sec 465 (punishment for forgery) r/w197,and a fine of Rs 40,000, R Balaji, District Elementary Education Officer, Sivaprakasam, Assistant EEO, Thandavan, Superintendent of Elementary Education Department and G Durai Raj, Private Assistant to the DEEO were sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment under IPC section 467 r/w 197 and a fine of Rs 10,000 each.

Those acquitted include District Elementary Education Officer B Palanisamy, District Education Officer R Narayanasamy, Assistant Elementary Education Officer J Radhakrishnan, Additional Assistant Elementary Education Officer K Balakrishan, Madhavan, V Balasubramanian, Primary school teacher P Devi, R Mahalakshmi, T Anthoniammal, Kumbakonam Municipal Commissioner R Sathiyamoorthy and Kumbakonam Municipality, Town Planning Officer, K Murugan.
The judge ordered that out of the fine amount, compensation of Rs 50,000 each shall be paid to the parents of 94 deceased children, Rs 25,000 to those critically injured and Rs 10,000 to those who suffered minor injuries.
July 16, 2004 turned out to be nightmare for parents as a fire that broke out from the makeshift noon meal kitchen in the building housing three schools spread to a thatched roof hut in the first floor killing 94 children and causing burns to 18 others.