Questions on accountability fixing remain unanswered

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Chandigarh, July 9

A day after the tragic incident at Carmel Convent School in which a young life was lost while several others received injuries after a tree fell on them, key question who should be made accountable for the incident remained unanswered.

The UT Administration maintained that the departments or institutions on whose premises the heritage trees are standing would be responsible for their protection, preservation and conservation in coordination with the Department of Forests.

The administration ordered a magisterial inquiry to look into the falling of a tree causing injury to students and staff of the school and the committee will submit its report within a week.

Custodians of heritage trees in the city are squarely responsible for the loss of life and injuries caused, said Vinod Vashisht, convener, City Forum of Residents Welfare Organisations.

“The ultimate ownership of all Chandigarh heritage trees and properties vests with the administration. It is wrong to point a finger at the school management. Inspections of trees to assess their health required scientific professional checks, besides visible inspections,” he said. It had also been seen due to fear of the stringent environmental protection laws, many officials concerned take long time or try to avoid tree cutting and pruning requests made by citizens, he added.

Demanding action in the case, Keshav Garg, a CA, said, “As a parent, it is a matter of concern for me that despite having lost a bright student, no serious action has been taken against the school or the UT Administration officials.”

In a letter, he requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate action and fix the responsibility of the officials concerned by ordering their temporary suspension till the time inquiry is not completed.

Ajay Jagga, incharge of the Committee of School Transport, stated that the safety of children was the collective responsibility of the school management and even the association of parents and teachers, and the Commission for Protection of Child Rights should keep a check on it.

RK Garg, president, Second Innings Association, said there was a need for a high-level inquiry and a review of the policy on heritage trees. “It is responsibility of the administration to ensure the safety of people. It should also make sure such unfortunate deaths do not take place in future,” he said.

UT Adviser Dharam Pal said he had gone to attend the Northern Zonal Council meeting in Jaipur and had just reached the city. He said he would take stock of the situation in detail tomorrow.