Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 7: State High Court today directed the Power Development Department to pay compensation of Rs 3.50 lakh along with interest at the rate of 7.5 % per annum to the family members of a young man, who died due to electrocution.
The petitioners, who were settled in village Kachhrial of tehsil Akhnoor located near the Actual Line of Control, had to leave their home and hearth in the year 1999 because of disturbances on the border.
Accordingly, the State Government settled them temporarily at Migrant Camp Bomal situated in tehsil Akhnoor. Ganesh Dass, the son of petitioners, was sleeping in a tent on February 22, 2001 when the transformer installed by the Power Development Department caught fire and 11 KV electric line carrying high voltage dropped at the tent leading to severe burn injuries to Ganesh, who later died in the Sub-District Hospital, Akhnoor.
Attributing Ganesh’s death to the State Government’s negligence, the family members of deceased filed petition seeking compensation for the death of Ganesh, who was the sole breadwinner of the family.
After hearing Advocate D K Bangotra appearing for the petitioners whereas Advocate G S Thakur for the PDD, Justice J P Singh observed, “the plea projected by the State-respondents denying their liability to compensate the petitioners for the death of their son cannot be accepted. No doubt dealing in the supply of electric energy is a hazardous activity but State and its functionaries were bound to take requisite safety measures to ensure that there was no escape of the energy that may cause damage”.
“The Department is required to install such safety devices which would automatically stop flow of electric energy even in case of any snag to avoid loss of life and property. The omission of the Power Development Department of the State Government in not taking requisite safety measures has deprived the petitioners of their son and of their dependence on his income”, Justice J P Singh further observed.
Holding the State liable to compensate the petitioners, the High Court directed that the petitioners be provided compensation of Rs 3.50 lakh along with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of the filing of the petition.
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