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This is an archive article published on December 7, 2016
Discoms to compensate electrocution victims: Delhi High Court
In its order the bench observed that the DERC and the discoms cannot shy away from their duty and shift the burden on each other.
Delhi High Court
Holding electricity distribution companies (discoms) and the Delhi Electricity regulatory commission (DERC) responsible for maintaining “safety measures and standards” to prevent accidents, the Delhi High Court has said that the discoms should pay compensation to families of those who have sustained injuries or have died after been electrocuted in public spaces.
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“Discoms to take urgent cognizance of cases of electrocutions and pay compensation in accordance with law to the dependents of the deceased in case lapses are established in maintaining the prescribed safety measures,” the bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal said.
In its order passed on Monday on two PILs relating to deaths caused by electrocution in the city, the bench observed that the DERC and the discoms “cannot shy away from their duty and shift the burden on each other. Rather it would be appropriate for them to work together to ensure that such incidents do not occur in future”.
The bench has also directed that the DERC, “being a regulatory body, must oversee strict implementation and compliance of safety measures by discoms for all residents against electrocution deaths and other electricity related injuries”. It must also “ensure that officers of discoms shall comply with the directions”, the bench said.
In a PIL filed last year, NGO Common Cause had told the court that 29 deaths and over 40 injuries caused due to electrocution had been reported from various parts of Delhi since 2008.
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