NHRC notice to the Delhi Chief Secretary over the reported death of a construction worker due to electrocution in the government-run LNJP Hospital’s basement

New Delhi, 4th July, 2023

Expressing serious concern over the deaths due to electrocution, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that an 18-year-old boy died due to electrocution while working in the basement of the government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital in Central Delhi on 2nd July, 2023. Reportedly, this is the third incident of death due to electrocution in Delhi in the recent past.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of the human rights violation of the victim. The negligence is prima-facie apparent on the part of the hospital authorities resulting in the loss of life. The responsibility to supervise the work and to take all precautions to ensure the safety of the workers at the construction site lies with them.

Accordingly, it has issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi calling for a detailed report in the matter within 4 weeks. It should include the present status of the FIR registered in the matter, action taken against the responsible officers/officials, and compensation if any, paid to the next of kin of the deceased. The Commission would also like to know whether safety equipment is being provided to the workers deployed at the particular construction site of the new hospital building.

According to the media report, carried on 3rd July, 2023, a new hospital building is being constructed at the site where the incident happened. There were some open wires in the basement that was waterlogged.

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