BANGALORE: The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has directed the state government to pay the remaining compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the parents of Deepika, a student who died when a cupboard fell on her at Golitottu Government School in Puttur of Dakshina Kannada in June 2009.
According to the order signed by KHRC Chairman S R Nayak, the Commission has also directed the Department of Public Instruction to take action against the head of the school ‘for dereliction of duty by initiating a disciplinary inquiry’.
The Commission has said that both the orders should be complied within a month from the date of the order and the action taken report (ATR) should be submitted to it at the earliest.
“The Commission, having taken the cognisance of the media reports thought it was just, fair, reasonable and humane to direct the government to pay reasonable compensation to the girl’s parents,” the order stated.
Accordingly, it has recommended the chief secretary of the government to pay s 3 lakh as compensation to the parents.
In response to the notice, the chief secretary had interacted with the deputy commissioner and deputy director of the Department of Public Instruction, Dakshina Kannada, and collected the reports which he had forwarded to the commission for perusal.
The reports indicated that the DDPI has placed the headmistress under suspension for ‘dereliction of duty’. A compensation of Rs 1 lakh has already been given to the parents of the deceased from the funds earmarked for natural calamity.
With regard to the payment of the rest of the amount, the DDPI stated to have sought advise from the secretary to government.