Consider enhancing interest to school fire victims, HC to TN

The Madras High Court today directed Tamil Nadu government to consider enhancing the interest rate on compensation for victims of the 2004 Kumbakonam school fire tragedy to nine per cent per annum from six per cent.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, said that the interest rate should be nine per cent instead of six per cent, considering the tragedy of the claimants.
Passing directions, based on a petition by the victims, the court noted that the interest for victims was granted from the date of the claim petition.
The interst was granted by the High Court-appointed one- man Commission led by Justice K Venkatraman. The Commission was set up to fix compensation to the families of the victims.

Stating that the "compensation is really determined keeping in mind the date of accident," the court directed the state to file an affidavit in this regard within six weeks.
94 children were charred to death in Sri Krishna aided primary School and Saraswathi Primary School at Kumbakonam in a fire mishap on 16 July, 2004. Some children were grievously injured and others suffered minor injuries.
The Commission had fixed the compensation asRs five lakh each tothe families of the 94 children.