Kumbakonam fire tragedy: Commission inspects school

The one man commission appointed by Madras High Court to fix the extent and percentage of negligence in the 2004 Kumbakonam school fire tragedy that killed 94 children, today inspected the school here.
Justice K Venkataraman of the commission later met the parents of the victims and promised to ensure speedy justice to them, and that he will soon file his report to the court.
The High Court had on September 16 appointed Justice Venkatraman as the one man commission after Justice P Shanmugam, who was appointed earlier, recused himself citing unexpected health problems.
The court had asked the commission to submit its report as expeditiously as possible, not later than six months from the date on which the state government has provided the necessary infrastructure.

The Sessions Court in Thanjavur had on July 30 convicted and sentenced prime accused and founder of Sri Krishna Primary School, Pulavar R Palanisamy to life imprisonment and his wife and school administrator Saraswathi, headmistress Santha Lakshmi and Office Superintendent of District Education Office Thandavan to five years Rigorous Imprisonment and fine.
The court had convicted a total of 10 accused while acquitting 11 others, most of them government employees.