Latest news with #TamilNaduPrivateSchools(Regulation)Rules
New Indian Express
01-08-2025
- New Indian Express
Madras HC seeks reply on plea for Rs 50 lakh compensation over toddler's death in playschool sump
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday sought a response from the school education department on a man's petition seeking Rs 50 lakh compensation for the death of his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, who had drowned in an open water sump at a playschool in Madurai. Petitioner T Amuthan stated that he had admitted his daughter Aarudra to a playschool in Madurai by paying nearly Rs 37,000. On April 29, his wife received a call from the school that their daughter had fallen down and was taken to a private hospital. Upon reaching the hospital, the couple came to know that their daughter had drowned in a sump which had been left open and unfenced at the school, he said. Blaming the school authorities for gross negligence, Amuthan claimed the school lacked first-aid facilities and that the staff were not trained in handling emergencies. He also criticised the school education authorities for allegedly failing to conduct periodic inspections, as stipulated under the Tamil Nadu Private Schools (Regulation) Rules, 2023, and sought the above direction. Hearing the plea, Justice S Srimathy issued notices to the school education secretary and director, Madurai collector, the school management, among others, and directed the authorities to file a counter-affidavit before the next hearing on August 22.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Time of India
Father of girl, 4, who drowned in school moves HC seeking relief
Madurai: The father of a four-year-old girl who died drowning in a water tank inside a private play school campus in Madurai moved Madras high court on Thursday seeking compensation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Justice S Srimathy sought a response from the Madurai district administration officials on a petition filed by T Amuthan. The petitioner stated that he admitted his daughter Aarudra to Sri Kindergarten Playschool in K K Nagar in Madurai. On April 29, he received a call stating that his daughter died drowning in an uncovered water tank and was taken to the hospital. When he came to the hospital, he came to know that his daughter died. Amuthan stated that the school owed a duty of care towards their daughter and blatantly breached it, resulting in her untimely and preventable death. The school authorities failed to maintain a safe and secure environment for the students, particularly young children like their deceased daughter, and failed to take precautions to prevent such foreseeable accidents. There was a clear lack of supervision and security. The water tank was not properly covered and it was not properly fenced. He stated the govt had a statutory duty to inspect the premises before granting recognition to private schools, as mandated by the Tamil Nadu Private Schools (Regulation) Rules, 2023. The school conducted unauthorised summer classes, despite instructions prohibiting the same. Hence, the petitioner moved court seeking compensation of 50 lakh.
The Hindu
31-07-2025
- The Hindu
Father of girl who drowned in school sump moves court for compensation
Father of four-year-old Aarudra, who died after drowning in the sump of a private school in K.K. Nagar in Madurai, has filed a petition before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking appropriate compensation. He blamed the Madurai district administration and the school for negligence that resulted in the death of his daughter. The petitioner T. Amuthan of Uthangudi said he had admitted his daughter to Sri Kindergarten Playschool in K.K. Nagar. On April 29, she drowned in an uncovered sump inside the school premises at around 10.20 a.m.. It was due to the gross negligence on the part of the school authorities and failure of duty on the part of officials, he said. He said the school owed a duty of care towards his daughter and blatantly breached it, resulting in her untimely death. The school authorities had failed to maintain a safe and secure environment for the students. They failed to take precautions to prevent such foreseeable accidents. There was a clear lack of supervision and security. The authorities had a statutory duty to inspect the school premises before granting recognition to private schools, as mandated by Tamil Nadu Private Schools (Regulation) Rules, 2023. The authorities failed to conduct a proper site inspection and did not carry out periodic inspections thereafter, he said. He said the school conducted unauthorised summer classes despite instructions prohibiting the same. As per Rule 38 there were no first aid facilities in the school and the staff lacked training in handling emergencies. Madurai district administration and the school have to pay just and fair compensation for the death of his daughter, he said and sought a compensation of ₹50 lakh. Justice S. Srimathy ordered notice to Madurai district administration and the school authorities and posted the matter for hearing to August 22.
