A notice has been issued to the Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh and the General Manager, Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Limited to show cause within 6 weeks 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 at the Commission by Shri Jampana Srinivasa Gowd of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh dated 5th May 2000 drawing attention to the death of Shri P. Seshbabu and his son P. Bharat Pawan Kumar, by electrocution on 4 May 2000.
The Commission 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 Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh, 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 has been lost because of the failure of the supplier of energy to take appropriate precautions. It is a well-settled proposition that if the supplier of electricity fails in maintaining 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.
The Commission felt it is a fit case in which 'interim relief' ought to be paid to the next of kin of both the deceased and issued show cause notice to this effect.