RAMACHANDIRAN Vs. CHAIRMAN, TANGEDCO, TAMIL NADU ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Writ Petition is filed to direct the respondents to pay a sum of Rs.25,00,000.00 as compensation towards the death of the petitioner's son namely Bharathpandian, aged about 26 years due to the electrocution as a result of coming into contact with the live wire that was snapped.

(2.) The case of the Writ Petitioner is that the said Bharathpandian aged about 26 years was their elder son and has scored 455 out of 500 in the 10th standard and 1028 out of 1200 in the 12th standard. After completing his schooling he pursued B.E. Mechanical Engineering at the University College of Engineering. However, owing to financial constraints he discontinued his Engineering studies and completed his Senior Grade Typewriting both in Tamil and English and had applied for employment relating to the same and was trying for public employment. While so, on 11/5/2023, when he was returning after visiting agricultural lands at Mettukulam, Mungapattu Village, Kalur Post, Gudiyatham Taluk, Vellore District, when he was nearing agricultural lands owned by one Vinayakam a high density electric wire that got snapped between two poles was lying on the ground and unfortunately the said Bharathpandian came into contact of the live wire and died. A case under Cr.No.200 of 2023 was also registered. It can be seen that he died only on electrocution. Therefore, the compensation is sought for.

(3.) The Writ Petition is resisted by filing a counter affidavit. The above facts are admitted. It is also stated that pursuant to the First Information Report, the Post Mortem report states the deceased would have died due to electrocution. However, final opinion is reserved for want of chemical analysis report. In the counter in paragraph No.7 it further states that as per the Board Circular dtd. 16/10/2019 which is applicable as on date of death a sum of Rs.5,00,000.00is only payable as compensation and the same will be paid. It is their contention that more than Rs.5,00,000.00 cannot be claimed by the petitioner.