Meena Devi broke down in the courtroom on Monday as soon as the judge pronounced the quantum of punishment.

Meena, who was principal of the Dharmasati Gandaman Primary School in Saran district where 23 children died and 25 others fell ill after eating the midday meal on July 16, 2013, was sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and seven years under Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court said both sentences would run separately, which means she will have to spend 17 years in jail.

In addition, the court imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh under Section 304 and Rs.1.25 lakh under Section 308 of the IPC. If Meena fails to pay the fine, she will have to serve one more year in jail.

On August 24, the court had found the principal guilty but acquitted her husband Arjun Rai - who was charged with supplying the contaminated oil with which the school meal was cooked - for lack of evidence.

On Monday, the court observed: "Though there was no such intention, utter negligence on the part of the accused principal (Meena) led to the death of 23 innocent children and took 25 others ill."

A number of lawyers and litigants had assembled in the court to hear the sentencing. Meena was brought from the district jail to the civil court under tight security. She, according to eyewitnesses, burst into tears as soon as additional district and sessions judge (II) Vijay Prakash Tiwary pronounced the sentence.

Meena's relatives, who were present in the courtroom, were crestfallen. "We respect the judgment of the court, but we will appeal in the high court against the judgment of the lower court," said Meena's father Sabhalal Rai.

Parents of children who had died, however, were not satisfied with the quantum of punishment - just as they were unhappy with the principal's husband being acquitted.

"At least she should have been given a life term, if not hanging for the offence she had committed," said Surendra Rai, who had lost his eight-year-old daughter Mamta in the tragedy.

Earlier, public prosecutor Surendra Nath Singh Bejor pleaded for severe punishment to Meena.

"I am satisfied with the order," Bejor said.