Court orders Rs 13.82 lakh compensation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 03 2020: In a landmark judgement, Civil Judge Senior Division, Imphal West, Ojesh Mutum has directed the Manipur State Power Company Ltd and the Manipur State Power Distribution Company Ltd to pay Rs 13,82,848 as compensation to one Kh (o) Rebina of Naoremthong Takhellambam Leikai, in connection with the death of her husband Kh Shashikanta on October 22, 2013, within a period of three months.

The judgment was passed today after it was kept reserved following the final hearing on December 21 last year.

The Court order came after a civil suit was filed by the widow (and her daughter) against the Commissioner/Secretary (Power), Managing Directors of MSPCL, MSPDCL and Imphal West DC seeking a compensation of Rs 30 lakh after her husband was electrocuted due to unsafe installation of electric transformer fitted with high tension naked live wire at low height (without proper fencing and no danger signs) in a crowded market place.

As per the suit, the widow claimed that on October 22, 2013, her husband went to the market to purchase some aluminium bars/guides.

After purchasing the items from a shop near Polo Ground, he placed the aluminium bars/guides on his shoulder and began driving his moped.

However, the metal accidentally touched a naked HT live wire of the nearby transformer and he was instantaneously rendered unconscious.

He was rushed to RIMS but was declared brought dead.

On December 9, 2013, Rebina submitted a representation for compensation to the then Electricity Department (now MSPCL and MSPDCL) apart from submitting another representation to the Imphal West DC seeking compensation for the death of her husband due to gross negligence by the Electricity Department.

The complainant (Rebina), through her counsel, sent a legal notice to the Commissioner/ Secretary (Power) Manipur, for compliance of the High Court order of November 5, 2014 .

However, only after a contempt of Court case was filed, an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh was paid by the concerned department to her.

The civil suit alleged that the works of electric transmission and supply in Manipur, including at the site of the accident, are done by MSPDCL and MSPCL and as such they are responsible for any negligence on their part which leads to damages or loss of human life and property.

It is also their bounden duty to take up safety measures and proper fencing around transformers.

Citing gross negligence on the part of the authorities concerned, the complainant/plaintiff demanded a compensation of Rs 30 lakh.

After going through all the materials on record, the Court ordered MSPCL, MSPDCL and Imphal West DC to pay a compensation of Rs 13,82,848 to the widow within a period of three months.

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