
Kerala to take strict action in Thevalakkara student electrocution death case; family to get house, aid
The decision comes after the department received a detailed report from the Director of General Education. The minister announced a series of steps to ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The school headmistress will be suspended with immediate effect. A show-cause notice will be issued to the school management for allegedly failing to act on safety lapses. The management has been asked to respond within three days.
The Additional Educational Officer who was in charge of the school at the time will be asked to provide an explanation. Since the District Educational Officer of Kollam had retired when the academic year began, AEO Antony Peter had been given the DEO's additional charge.
The department will use powers under Rule 7 of Chapter 3 of the Kerala Education Rules to take further action against the management if necessary. The minister also urged the management to seriously consider providing financial assistance to Midhun's family.
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Electrocution: Thevalakkara school manager disqualified
1 2 3 4 T'puram: More than a week after a student was electrocuted to death at the Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam, the general education department on Saturday disqualified its manager and took over its administration. Kollam district education officer will function as the manager until a new manager is appointed. Midhun, an eighth-standard student died on July 17 after coming into contact with a dangling power cable. General education minister V Sivankutty announced on Saturday the decision to disqualify the school manager, Thulaseedharan Pillai, who, according to the education department inquiry, committed grave mistakes by not adhering to the instructions given by the govt to ensure the safety of school students. Thevalakkara Boys High School is under the Thevalakkara Boys and Girls High School management, run by a pro-CPM educational society. Sivankutty said the department inquiry found that several students reached the school compound well before the school working hours. There were serious lapses on the part of the school headmistress and the manager in ensuring the safety of students. The headmistress was already suspended from service. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 & 4 BHK Starts ₹1.65 Cr in Kukatpally Honer Signatis Book Now Undo The manager failed to adhere to the KER Rule 9 of Chapter 3, which holds the aided school manager responsible for implementing the directions given by the govt from time to time. The manager was disqualified as per Rule 7 of KER, Chapter 3. The department had given a show-cause notice to Pillai to cite reasons, if any, for not disqualifying him as manager. He, however, denied all the charges of duty dereliction. Meanwhile, the school management announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the family of Midhun. KSTA, a pro-CPM school teachers' association, also announced Rs 10 lakh to the family. The general education department sanctioned Rs 3 lakh and KSEB provided Rs 5 lakh assistance to the family. Sivankutty said the department would take steps to ensure that students do not face any danger on school premises. A checklist on the safety of schools will be prepared. Officials will carry out inspections and submit reports in three weeks. "A safety cell has been set up under the director of general education. The public can approach this cell if they have complaints about safety in schools," he said.


News18
2 days ago
- News18
Kerala Govt to Take Over Administration Of Aided School After Student's Electrocution
Last Updated: Mithun, a student of Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam district, died last week after coming into contact with a live electric wire on the school premises. General Education Minister V Sivankutty announced on Saturday that the Kerala government will take over the administration of an aided school where a 13-year-old student was recently electrocuted. The school's manager will also be dismissed from service due to the incident, reported PTI. Mithun, a student of Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam district, died last week after coming into contact with a live electric wire on the school premises. Speaking to reporters, Sivankutty said the Director of Public Instruction (DPI) reported 'serious lapses" that led to the student's accidental death. 'In this context, the DPI will issue an order dismissing the manager of Thevalakkara Boys High School and handing over the administration to the district education officer in Kollam," the minister said. Referring to the provisions of the Kerala Education Act, he noted that if 'any lapse is found on the part of the manager of an aided school, the government has the authority to take over the institution for a specific period in the public interest." Sivankutty remarked that the untimely death of the class 8 student had caused 'widespread sorrow," and the government was taking measures to prevent such incidents in the future. 'Despite the authorities convening several meetings to ensure school safety, this incident still occurred," he said. In response to growing concerns, the Department of General Education has started taking extra measures to ensure school safety. The minister mentioned that PTA members, teachers, students, and the public are encouraged to report safety concerns. A high-level review meeting on ongoing safety measures is scheduled for July 31. As part of the support for Mithun's family, the Scouts and Guides under the General Education Department will build a house for them. An amount of Rs 3 lakh will be provided from the DPI's account. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has already granted Rs 5 lakh as financial relief. The school management has also announced a Rs 10 lakh grant as assistance. Additionally, the Kerala School Teachers' Association (KSTA) has pledged Rs 10 lakh for the family, according to the minister. view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 17:26 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Kerala student's electrocution: Thevalakkara school manager dismissed
The government has dismissed the manager of Thevalakkara Boys High School, in Kollam district and entrusted the District Education Officer (DEO) with the school's administration. A Class VIII student had died owing to electrocution from an overhead power line inside the school on July 17, 2025. Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty told mediapersons in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday (July 26, 2025) that a report of Director of General Education (DGE) Shanavas S. had found grave dereliction of duty on the part of the manager R. Thulasidharan Pillai. Electrocution of school student: Kerala government orders inquiry Earlier, the school headmistress Suja S. had been suspended from service after the Kollam Assistant Education Officer (AEO) visited the school and found lapses on her part in ensuring safety of the students. Mr. Sivankutty said the government could take over the school's management as per Section 14 of the Kerala Education Act, 1958, if it appeared that the manager had neglected to perform his duties. The school management, particularly the manager, had failed to ensure student safety as part of school reopening arrangements. The death of Midhun from electrocution was prima facie the result of lapses on the part of the manager in discharging his responsibilities as per Kerala Education Rules (KER) Chapter III Section 9. Accordingly, the manager had been issued a show-cause notice by the Kollam AEO as per KER Chapter III Section 7. His reply stated that there had been no deliberate lapses on his part in ensuring students' safety and that he had tried to discharge his duties properly. However, the manager's reply was found to be unsatisfactory and he was deemed unfit to hold the post of manager of Thevalakkara boys and girls high school. 'The Kollam DEO would act as the manager for the smooth administration of the school till a new appointment was made,' Mr. Sivankutty said.