MSHRC directs MSEDCL to pay Rs 5 lakh to kin of each of the three victims who died of electrocution in June
Five months after three people died of electrocution, Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has ordered Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to give compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families.
On June 02, Om Fadtare (10), who was playing in the Trimurti area of Bhandup (E) died by electrocution when he came in contact with a live wire on the playground. In another incident, Anil Pandurang Yadav (33) and Zara Younus Shaikh (9) were electrocuted in Bhandup (W). After receiving a jolt, they were taken to Agarwal Hospital in Mulund, where they were declared dead.
The Commission had taken a suo-motu notice on a media report about the deaths due to electrocution, primarily holding the MSEDCL responsible for the mishap. Observing that it was negligence on the part of MSEB since the officials while carrying out the cable work at the relevant places had not only left it unfinished but exposed leading to the incident, the commission, in its notice, has given a month's time to the former to respond.
"The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) had said that the residents had been moving complaints to the authority concerned about the exposed electric cables, but in vain. While in rebuttal, the MSEDCL sought to pass the buck on the BMC by asserting that it failed to remove the heap of garbage lying in and around the place where the cable work was going on which resulted in stagnation of the rainwater and eventually the incidents," said an official from the Commission.
"Primarily, the unfortunate incidents occurred due to the serious lapses committed by the officials of the MSEDCL. MSEDCL by its own actions and admission established serious lapses and negligence on its part resulting in a violation of the human rights of not only the deceased but even their parents, relatives etc. MSEDCL, Mumbai has been asked to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the legal heirs of the deceased within six weeks. If it failed to pay within the designated period, an interest of 12.50 per cent per annum on the awarded amount will be imposed till the amount is paid," said MA Sayed, acting chairperson of MSHRC.
The BMC and MSEDCL should work out a viable, practical solution for resolving such problems by formulating in-house guidelines so as to avoid re-occurrence of such mishap or incidents, he added.
STRICT DEADLINE
Observing that it was negligence on the part of MSEDCL, the commission said if the latter failed to pay within the designated period, an interest of 12.50% per annum on the awarded amount will be imposed till the amount is paid
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