446 died and nearly 200 suffered injuries in the fire that broke out in a DAV school function in 1995

In a historic judgment, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today awarded a compensation of over Rs 50 crore ( rate of interest included) to the kin of 446 deceased and nearly 200 people, who suffered injuries in the fire tragedy that took place on December 23, 1995 at a school function in Dabwali.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia has awarded the exemplary compensation and fixed a deadline of four months for its payment.

The court ruled that 55 per cent of the total amount is to be paid by the DAV Centenary Public School, Mandi Dabwali, and Rajiv Marriage Palace, the venue of the mishap. The remaining 45 per cent will be paid by the Haryana government. The state has been given the liberty to recover 15 per cent each of its liability from Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited and Municipal Committee, Dabwali.

In case of default in payment within four months, the HC has ruled that the kin of deceased and injured can move the court demanding contempt proceedings against the authorities.

The court ruled “if state-run hospitals in Haryana are not equipped to provide treatment to the victims, such treatment may be provided either at the PGI, Chandigarh, or at the AIIMS, Delhi, at the cost of the state Government upon satisfaction of the Director, Health Services, Haryana that such treatment cannot be provided in the state-run hospitals”.

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