(1.) The legal heirs of the victim who lost his life due to burns sustained from electrocution, by accidentally coming in contract with a sagged 33 K. V. live electric line, filed a petition before this Court for award of compensation. The petition received by post was registered as a writ application and notice was issued to opp. parties. This Court also directed the Government to produce the copy of the enquiry report conducted by the Chief Electrical Inspector, Orissa.
(2.) In response to the notice, an affidavit was filed by the Government, sworn to by the Deputy Secretary to Government of Orissa, Energy Department annexing the report of the Chief Electrical Inspector as well as other connected papers. It was also averred in paragraph 5 of the affidavit that as per the sanction of the Government in the G. A. Department Order dated 20-9-1995 (vide-Annexure B/1) an amount of Rs. 4,000/- has been disbursed for treatment of late Madha Sahu.
(3.) Perusal of the report submitted by the Chief Electrical Inspector (Annexure-A/1) clearly reveals that the fatal electrocution occurred on 30-4-1995 when the victim accidentally came in contact with the sagged 33 K. V. overhead conductor, thereby he sustained serious burn injuries. He was admitted in the Govt. Hospital, Angul on 30-4-1995 and after prolonged treatment he was relieved on 4-11-1995 and thereafter succumbed to the injuries on 23-11-1995. It is further stated that the overhead conductor was sagged due to bending of line support and the ground clearance was reduced to approximately 5 feet. After elaborate discussion, the Chief Electrical Inspector in his report clearly stated that late Madha Sahu, the ancestor of the petitioners, in fact, became a victim of the aforesaid accident and that the accident occurred due to bending of the line support and reduction of ground clearance.