The Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has ordered Innocent Hearts School in Model Town area of the city to pay Rs 20 lakh as compensation to the family of four-year-old Aarush Arora, a student of the school, who was crushed under his school bus on August 1 last year.
The commission has also written to police commissioner Yurinder Singh Hayer to register a first information report (FIR) against the bus contractor, holding him directly responsible for the negligence that caused the child's death.
Aarush's father Chandan Arora had demanded an FIR against the school management in his complaint he had filed on December 5, 2014.
In its order, the commission observed that on August 1, 2014, the bus (PB08-AE-9153) did not have a regular driver and the contractor, Jagdeep Singh of Bashirpura, was deputed to ferry children. It further observed that the contractor even did not inform the management about the development.
The commission noted that the police acted only against the driver/conductor, but the contractor was also responsible for the same because the school management had a contract with the private contractor for transporting kids.
"I do not need any money from anyone and will move the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking registration of an FIR against the school management," Chandan Arora said, adding that the commission itself should have ordered FIR against the school.
{{/usCountry}}"I do not need any money from anyone and will move the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking registration of an FIR against the school management," Chandan Arora said, adding that the commission itself should have ordered FIR against the school.
{{/usCountry}}"I was tired of visiting the offices of the police commissioner and other senior officials," he added. He said several persons had approached him to strike compromise in the case. School management secretary Anup Bowry said he was yet to read the judgment and will take action accordingly.
Two deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) had submitted separate inquiry reports - while DCP Naveen Singla recommended registration of a case against the school management the other suggested the contrary.