Justice for Nathaniel: Meghalaya High Court Orders Compensation for Tragic School Incident

The Meghalaya High Court has mandated Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Mawphlang to compensate the family of Nathaniel Sohtun with Rs 6.5 lakh following his tragic electrocution in the school hostel. The ruling came from a bench led by Justice Hamar Sing Thangkhiew on Monday.

The compensation adds to the Rs 1 lakh ex gratia given previously, after the incident on the hostel's terrace last year. The court found the school responsible for negligence, emphasizing that the safety of students was compromised due to unlocked restricted areas.

The court also cited systemic deficiencies in the school's infrastructure, prompting a directive for immediate safety protocols, including regular safety audits and increased supervision. Although no criminal negligence was established against the school principal, a criminal case is ongoing.

(With inputs from agencies.)