Child protection commission orders school to pay Rs 20 lakh to accident victim's parents

JALANDHAR: In the case of death of a four-year-old child, who was crushed under a school bus while on way back home in August last year, the Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has ordered the management of Innocent Hearts School, Jalandhar, to pay Rs 20 lakh to his parents. The commission has also written to Jalandhar commissioner of police asking to register a case against driver, conductor and contractor of the bus.
Aarush was sitting on a seat next to the door when he fell out after the driver applied sudden brakes on reaching a speed breaker at Patel Chowk. The child was crushed under the rear wheel and died on the spot.
His father Chandan Arora, an industrialist, moved the state commission for child protection in December 2014, blaming the school for the accident.
During the case hearing, it was found that the school had engaged the bus on contract and the regular driver was on leave that day. The bus contractor had sent another man as his replacement.
The case was heard by the commission chairman Sukesh Kalia. The commission held that it was clearly a case of negligence by the driver and conductor and also held the contractor responsible. While asking police to book all three in the case, the commission ordered the school management to pay compensation of Rs 20 lakhs to Chandan.
Reacting to the commission's order, Arora said his fight was not for compensation but for criminal action against the school management. "I will move the Punjab and Haryana high court to seek criminal case against the school management," he said.