Kendrapara, Dec 24 (FN Agency) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Odisha Chief Secretary as to why a compensation of Rs 5 lakh will not be paid to the next of kin of a man who died of electrocution. The show cause notice was issued on December 19, last year, under Section 18 of the Protection of Humanhts Act, 1993. The NHRC passed the order acting on a petition filed by human Rights Activist Radhakanta Tripathy, who stated that Kanduri Rout was electrocuted after an overhead live supply line fell on him. The Commission said that if no response to the show cause notice is received within 6 weeks, it shall be presumed that the state government has no objection to the recommendation. The state government, the Commission said, shall be at liberty to realise the same from the TPCODL.
Tripathy alleged that 62-years-old Kanduri Rout, a resident of Barei Pipal within Paradip Lock police limits, was ploughing his paddy field on May 25 when he got electrocuted after an overhead live supply line fell on him. The Commission directed the Chief Executive Officer, TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL), Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, to submit a report on the point of compensation to be paid to the next kin of the deceased along with proof of payment, including an inspection report of the Electoral Inspector as mandated under Section 161(1) of the Electricity Act, 2003, within eight weeks.In response, the Additional Secretary, Department of Energy, submitted an action taken report and said a compensation of Rs 20,000 was given to the family for the cremation.
The Superintending Engineer-Cum-Dy. Electrical Inspector, Jagatsinghpur, stated in its report that the TPCODL authority is responsible for the unfortunate incident as it is their duty to ensure safety for all electric supply lines, apparatus, etc on consumer premises, which violates Regulation 14(1) of CEA (Measures related to Safety and Electric Supply), Regulations 2023, and also violates Section 42(1) of the Electricity Act, 2003.Considering the facts of the present case and keeping in view the specific findings, conclusion, and recommendation of the Dy. Electrical Inspector, Jagatsinghpur, there was negligence on the part of Electrical Distribution Co., which failed to keep proper maintenance of the line, and for this negligence,the commission said and ordered that the state is liable to pay compensation to the next kin of the deceased.