Ensure safety of all during educational tours: HC to HEIs

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the higher educational institutions (HEIs) organising educational tours and programmes to take all necessary precautions to ensure safety of students.

A private engineering college in Thimmasamudram, Kancheepuram, had organised a beach cleaning programme on September 27, 2014, between Koovathur and Thenpattinam villages.

During this programme, Madhanagopal (21), a third-year student, was dragged into sea by huge waves. He did not survive. In 2015, his mother Sharmila and sister Dhivyabharathi moved the

Madras High Court demanding compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the college’s negligence that took his life, and the State and union governments and Anna Varsity.

When this petition came up for the hearing before Justice SM Subramaniam, the State and union governments, the district collector and Anna Varsity said that the private engineering college had not informed them about holding such a programme and that proper security arrangements would have been made had they been informed.

The counsel for the private engineering college contended that Madhanagopal and his friend jumped into the sea. While trying to save themselves, Madhanagopal

died while 54 students who participated in the programme were advised not to venture into the sea. The college also claimed that they could not take responsibility for this incident.

Observing this, the Judge ordered the college administration to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the victim’s family and contended that if they had informed the authorities, proper security arrangements would have been made, and the student could have lived.

Further, the Judge directed the educational institutions to take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the students while organising educational tours and programmes.