NHRC recommends Rupees Fifty thousand compensation in electrocution death case

New Delhi the 12th February2009

The National Human Rights Commission has recommended to UP Power Corporation Ltd. to pay an amount of Rs. 50,000/- as monetary relief to complainant Mayawati, wife of Jagat Ram who died of electrocution.

The Complainant approached Commission seeking financial assistance in the matter saying that her husband cost his life after he came in contact with a live electric wire restingon a bent electric pole. The Commission issued notice to the Madhyanchal Power Distribution Corporation. It informed the Commission that an amount of Rs. 20,000/- had been paid to the wife of the deceased as per rules. However, the Commission held that the amount of Rs. 20,000/- is grossly inadequate for the loss of human life. Realizing the inadequacy of relief, the Corporation itself had revised its rules vide office order dated 19/4/2006 and enhanced the financial assistance from Rs. 20,000/- to Rs. 50,000/-in case of electrocution death. In its order the Commission reminded Madhyanchal Power Distribution Corporation that in NHRC's camp sitting held in Lucknow in January 2007 the Corporation had agreed that the enhanced amount would be paid in all those cases which had been reported to the Commission even though the incident of electrocution may have occurred prior to the date of revision of rules.

The National Human Rights Commission has asked UP Power Corporation to pay a sum of Rs. 50,000/- as monetary relief to the complainant Mayawati saying that Rs. 20,000/- which has already been paid been paid to her may be adjusted.