Court mandates preventive measures and compensation following child fatalities due to unsafe electrical installations.
In a landmark judgment, the Chhattisgarh High Court has taken decisive action following the tragic deaths of two children due to electrocution in separate incidents within the state. The court initiated a suo motu Public Interest Litigation based on news reports highlighting these fatalities, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures.
The incidents, which occurred in District Kondagaon and Village Kargikala, exposed severe lapses in electrical safety standards. In the first incident, a young child tragically lost her life at an Anganwadi Centre due to exposed live wires. The second incident involved a child who was electrocuted after coming into contact with an illegally electrified fence designed to protect crops from cattle.
The High Court, led by Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, issued a series of directives aimed at preventing such tragedies in the future. The court emphasized the necessity for thorough inspections of electrical installations and the prevention of unauthorized and illegal electricity use. These measures are critical to safeguarding both human and animal lives.
In response to the court's directives, the Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh filed a detailed affidavit outlining the actions taken. These included departmental inquiries, statewide safety inspections, and the disbursement of compensation to the bereaved families. An ex-gratia payment of Rs. 1,00,000 was granted to the family of the child who died at the Anganwadi Centre, while Rs. 4,00,000 was sanctioned to the family of the child electrocuted in the agricultural field.
The court's intervention has led to significant administrative actions, including the dismissal and suspension of responsible personnel, and legal proceedings under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against those accountable for the negligence.
The judgment serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining stringent safety standards and the role of judicial oversight in enforcing public safety. The court's proactive approach has set a precedent for addressing such issues with the seriousness they deserve.
With the implementation of these directives, the court has expressed satisfaction with the state's response and consigned the case to records, noting no further similar incidents have been reported since the measures were put in place.
Bottom Line:
Public Interest Litigation - Suo motu PIL initiated due to deaths caused by electrocution in Anganwadi Centre and agricultural field. Court emphasized the need for comprehensive preventive measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents. Compensation granted to bereaved families and statewide safety directions issued for inspection and prevention of unauthorized electrical installations.
Statutory provision(s): Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 Section 105
