SWAMIJI Vs. CHIEF SECRETARY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner's son Angappan @ Vignesh was a B.E degree holder. On 14/5/2014, he went to Thiruvannamalai along with his friends to circumambulate the hill of Arunachala (Girivalam). It was a full moon day. At around 10.45 p.m, when the petitioner was performing girivalam, a hoarding installed on the road side fell on the petitioner's son and his friends. The petitioner's son suffered grievous injury. He was rushed to the medical camp that had been organised by the fifth respondent temple. There was electricity leakage and when the petitioner's son happened to touch one of the pillars of the tent, he suffered electrocution. He was rushed to Government Hospital. He died en route. Crime No.236 of 2014 was registered on the file of East Police Station, Thiruvannamalai. The Government of Tamil Nadu announced ex gratia payment of Rs.1.00 Lakh. Seeking payment of compensation, the present writ petition came to be filed.

(2.) The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner reiterated all the contentions set out in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition and called upon this Court to grant relief as prayed for.

(3.) The writ petition was originally filed only against the Government of Tamil Nadu, the Thiruvannamalai Municipality and the Executive Officer of Arulmigu Arunachalaeswarar Temple. Subsequently, TANGEDCO was impleaded as party respondent.