Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 8: High Court awarded Rs 54 lakh as compensation to a man who has suffered electric shock while saving a bird stuck in a high-tension wire.
Justice M A Chowdhary awarded Rs 54.49 lakh compensation to a man who lost both his hands after suffering a severe electric shock while attempting to help the lineman in removing a bird stuck in a high-tension wire.
The court directed the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department to pay compensation of Rs 54,49,500 with 9 percent annual interest from the year 2013, until its realization.
According to the petitioner-Sham Lal, a welder by profession in 2012, a local lineman of the Power Development Department (PDD), approached him seeking help to remove a bird entangled in a high-tension electric line. The petitioner initially refused. However, the lineman reportedly insisted and assured him that the electricity supply had been disconnected.
On his assurance, he climbed a ladder to reach the pole. The moment he touched the metal angle attached to the structure, he received a powerful electric shock because the line was still alive. The impact threw him off the ladder resulting in burns on both of his hands and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Despite prolonged treatment, doctors had to amputate both his forearms. Medical records later certified him with 100 percent permanent disability. He approached the Court seeking compensation of Rs 71,06,672 along with interest, arguing that the accident occurred due to negligence of the Power Department.
His counsel told the court that the petitioner was a trained welder with a diploma from ITI and used to earn about Rs 10,000 per month through his welding work before the accident. Furthermore his family spent more than Rs 5 lakh on medical treatment and that doctors had recommended prosthetic limbs costing nearly Rs 4.96 lakh per pair.
The court determined that the petitioner-victim was entitled to a total compensation of Rs 54,49,500. Allowing the petition, the court directed the government authorities to pay the amount jointly. The court also ordered simple interest at nine per cent per annum from the date of filing of the petition in 2013 until the amount is paid.
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