New Delhi: In an order that revived memories of the Kumbakonam school fire tragedy in Tamil Nadu which killed 83 children, the Supreme Court today suggested that the Centre insist on a mandatory "fire safety inspection certificate" before a school is granted permission to function.
Such a measure would go a long way in preventing serious fire mishaps and ensure safety of children who are presently being exposed to such hazards on account of poorly built school buildings, a bench of Justices Tarun Chatterjee and Dalveer Bhandari said . "You better come with suggestions that there should be mandatory fire safety inspection reports, only after which, the schools should be allowed to commence their functioning.
We can then pass appropriate direction,"the apex court told amicus curaie (court appointed officer) and senior counsel Gonzalves, during the hearing of a PIL. However, the apex court did not show inclination to Gonzsalves suggestion that in the event of such deaths, each of the deceased's family should be paid Rs five lakh as compensation. The compensation should be realistic otherwise, "you can imagine how much the amount would go up to in a case like the Kumbakonam tragedy," the apex court said.
