Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday directed the state government, the electricity board and the Hyderabad-based engineering college, whose 24 students were washed away in Beas river, to file replies on a letter written by some parents alleging tampering of evidence by the college authorites.
On a letter written by 16 parents to the court alleging negligence by the college management and a faculty member with regard to the tragedy in June this year, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan sought the replies.
The parents also alleged the college authorities were tampering with evidence and were trying to influence the probe.
They alleged no adequate precautions for safety of the students in general and girl students, in particular, were taken and the college did not even engage a local tour guide having knowledge of geographic conditions, characteristics of rivers and local dams.
The faculty member even skipped the confirmed tour to Dr Reddy`s laboratories in Baddi and changed the original tour programme reducing the industrial tour to a merry-making trip, the letter alleged.
They further alleged the college management was influencing the students who have returned to give statements in support of the faculty and were trying to project the incident as an "act of God" and a result of irresponsible behaviour on part of the students.