Sandeep Kaur vs State Of Punjab And Ors

Key Points:

• The Punjab-Haryana High Court ruled in favor of Sandeep Kaur, awarding her a total compensation of Rs. 1,37,24,000 for injuries sustained due to the negligent maintenance of a university bathroom wall that collapsed on her.
• The court emphasized the university's vicarious liability for the incident and established that the claim for compensation was maintainable under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.
• This case underscores the responsibility of educational institutions to ensure safety on their premises and sets a precedent for similar claims regarding negligence leading to personal injury.

Background: Sandeep Kaur, a final year B.Sc. student at Desh Bhagat University, suffered severe injuries resulting in 100% disability when a bathroom wall collapsed on her during a storm in October 2013. She filed an appeal after her initial writ petition was dismissed by a single judge, seeking both re-investigation of the incident and damages for her injuries.

What's Next: The university is required to pay the awarded compensation within three months from the ruling date, which is set for February 13, 2026.