The Hindu : New Delhi News : NHRC notice to A.P. on electrocution deaths

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Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

NHRC notice to A.P. on electrocution deaths

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 8. The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh and the General Manager, Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Limited to show cause within six weeks as to why the Commission should not recommend payment of appropriate interim relief to the next of kin of two victims who had died due to electrocution.

A complaint was received by the Commission from Jampana Srinivasa Gowd of Krishna District on May 5, 2000 drawing attention to the death of P. Seshbabu and his son P.Bharat Pawan Kumar, by electrocution the previous day.

The Commission had then issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh, the Principal Secretary, Department of Electricity and the Chairman of A.P. Transmission Corporation. In reply the General Manager (IR), Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Limited, Hyderabad submitted a report, which stated that there was no negligence on the part of the departmental personnel.

Disturbed by the stand taken on behalf of the A.P. Transmission Corporation in trying to assert that there was no negligence on the part of the department personnel and heavy reliance being placed on conjunctures and surmises, the Commission observed that a precious life had been lost because of the failure of the supplier of energy to take appropriate precautions.

It was a well-settled proposition that if the supplier of electricity failed to maintain the services in safe conditions, it must give rise to an inference that there was negligence on the part of the supplier and in all such cases the rule of strict liability must apply, the Commission observed.

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