Student seeks Rs21 lakh damages from school for head injuries

A 16-year-old student has approached the Delhi high court against her school, seeking Rs21 lakh in damages for alleged negligence that resulted in her becoming physically handicapped.

Riya Gupta, a Std X student of Remal Public School in Northwest Delhi, alleged in her petition that she was seriously injured after being forced to dive into a pool during a swimming class despite the low level of water.

The incident happened in September 2007. The girl's head hit the bottom of the pool and she became 75% permanently disabled.

The petition, filed through her father, alleged that the school authorities were not cooperating with the victim's family, which has already spent more than Rs10 lakh on her treatment. Of this, only Rs1.71 lakh was contributed by the school, the petition said.

Advocate Ashok Agarwal, appearing for Gupta, alleged that there was utter negligence by the school authorities and they should pay damages to the tune of Rs21 lakh.