Prayagraj: In a significant order underscoring accountability for state negligence, the Allahabad high court has granted relief to a man who lost both his hands 29 years ago due to alleged lapses by the electricity department. The court has directed the state electricity department to pay Rs 26.65 lakh as compensation to the victim.The order, passed by Justice Sandeep Jain on a first appeal filed by the victim, Pappu, said: “He is entitled to a sum of Rs 26.65 lakh as compensation for the injuries suffered by him, along with pending and future interest at the rate of six per cent per annum from the date of filing of the case, that is May 30, 1997, till its realization from the UP electricity department.”The incident dates back to March 1997, when seven-year-old Pappu was playing near a primary school in Nagla Padi, Agra. An 11,000-volt transformer was installed at the site without any fencing or safety cover. The child accidentally came into contact with it, suffering severe burns that led to the amputation of both hands.A compensation suit filed through his father was dismissed by a trial court in 2005, which had blamed the child’s negligence. Challenging the order, he approached the HC, which has now overturned the trial court decision and awarded compensation.Allowing the first appeal, the high court set aside the impugned (under challenge) judgment and decree dated Oct 29, 2005, passed by the additional district judge, Agra, by which the compensation was denied to the victim on the ground that the incident occurred due to his negligence.The court directed that the victim is also entitled to the costs of the suit and the appeal, including the court fees payable in the suit and the appeal, from the state electricity department.The court, in its judgment dated Apr 15, directed the department to pay the above amount within one month from today, failing which, the plaintiff is at liberty to initiate execution proceedings against it for realization of said amount.
