CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the State to pay within eight weeks, `10 lakh as compensation to the family of a youth who died of electrocution at Mangadu on September 27, 2010.
Passing orders on a petition from R Kumar, father of the deceased Victor, Justice MS Ramesh said the State government and TNEB are liable for the negligence and lack of maintenance of the live wire, which caused the death of the petitioner’s son.
Petitioner’s eldest son Victor, a plumber, came into contact with a live wire that had snapped in the vacant plot opposite his house, resulting in his instantaneous death. Claiming a compensation of `15 lakh, the father moved the High Court.
Counsel for TNEB submitted that the low tension line had snapped only due to heavy wind and rain on that day, which was an act of God. There was no negligence on TNEB’s part and the accident was beyond its control.
The judge said prior to installing a live wire, careful precaution must be taken to ensure that the wire, which can be a danger to the public if it snaps due to heavy rain and wind, is installed with utmost durability and endeavour to withstand such unforeseen situation. Rigorous periodic inspection needs to be conducted to avoid any untoward incident. Absence of the precaution would amount to negligence by the authorities. It was common knowledge that rain tends to become heavy only after gradual and constant downpour thereby turning into storm or gale, which were always predictable and hence precautions like stopping power supply to openly installed wires and transformer was essential, the judge said.
In this case, the live wire, with which Victor came into contact, had snapped either due to poorly installed electric pole or lack of proper and periodic maintenance. The authorities do not seem to have taken any precaution to cut down power supply, when heavy rain and wind were anticipated. The unfortunate incident is attributable due to negligence on the part of TNEB officials, the judge said.