Principal convicted for negligence in 2019 Khadakoli School bus tragedy; Court says accident was ‘Preventable’
Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source internet
Shimla, Dec 5,
Reinforcing institutional accountability in school transportation safety, the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Upasana Sharma has convicted DAVN School Principal Dhanendra Goyal for negligence that led to the 2019 Khadakoli bus accident in which five students and the bus driver lost their lives.
Delivering the verdict on Thursday, the court held that Principal Goyal had direct and unquestionable responsibility in permitting a visibly unsafe vehicle to continue on road despite repeated warnings. The prosecution established that multiple complaints regarding the deteriorating condition of the school bus had been communicated to him well before the accident of January 5, 2019.
The court observed that the bus suffered a mechanical failure en route—an outcome it deemed avoidable had timely repairs or replacement been carried out. Ten witnesses, including staff and parents, deposed during the trial that concerns were frequently raised, yet no corrective action was taken by the school administration.
Compounding the lapse, the court found that the driver assigned to the vehicle neither held a licence to operate a heavy vehicle nor possessed the mandatory five years’ experience required under school bus safety norms. This violation, the court noted, pointed to a “serious breach of duty” by the principal, who was responsible for ensuring adherence to statutory safeguards governing student transport.
Terming the negligence “grave and preventable,” the court concluded that the tragedy was the direct result of administrative failure at the institution’s highest level.
For these offences, the court sentenced the principal to three months’ simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs250 under Section 336 IPC; four months and a fine of Rs 500 under Section 337; one year and a fine of Rs1,000 under Section 338; and two years’ simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs10,000 under Section 304-A. Additionally, a fine of Rs 1,000 was imposed under Section 180 of the Motor Vehicles Act. In case of default in payment of fines, the convict will undergo an additional 15 days’ simple imprisonment. All sentences will run concurrently.
The conviction marks one of the rare instances where administrative accountability has been individually fixed in a school-related transport tragedy, underscoring the judiciary’s stance that safety norms cannot be reduced to procedural formalities.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
