Fix responsibility for Vellore tragedy, says high court

Chennai:The Madras high court has directed state government to look into the death of 12-year-old Priyanka, who fell into an open drainage-cum-rainwater canal and died on June 2 in Vellore district, fix the responsibility on such an incident and state as to what measures will be taken in the future to prevent such tragedies.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, posted to August 20 further hearing of the public interest litigation filed by I. Elangovan, a retired associate professor and now practising as an advocate. He sought a direction to the state government to pay Rs 20 lakh as compensation to the parents of Priyanka.

The bench said, “We are informed that the ex gratia payment will not be less than Rs 50,000. This should be paid within two weeks. As to what should be the final ex gratia, will be decided by this court for which the counsel will assist us.”

In his petition, Elangovan gave details of Priyanka’s drowning in the drainage canal on June 2, 2014 in Vellore. Her death could have been averted had the drainage canal been without any encroachment. Her death showed the callousness and negligence on the part of the Vellore municipal corporation, which had turned a Nelson’s eye to the rampant encroachment on the drainage-cum-rainwater drain on the stretch, he added.