The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a show-cause notice under Section 18 of Human Rights Act, 1993 to the State Chief Secretary as to why compensation of Rs 3 lakh should not be paid to the next of kin of an electrocution victim of Keonjhar district.
The complainant civil society organisation Human Rights Watch Sangita Swain had alleged that on April 7, 2016 Jamuna Munda, wife of Baida Munda of Machhagada village under the Patna police station in Keonjhar district died due to electrocution after coming in touch with an 11 KV electric wire that had snapped and fallen on ground.
This violates human rights due to inaction of the concerned authorities, stated Swain in her petition to the NHRC. Subsequently, the commission sought a report from the Chief Secretary.
In reply, the Energy Department Additional Secretary informed the commission, the unfortunate incident took place due to heavy rains, storm and lighting. Hence the conductor span at source end fell on dead bushes due to that heavy storm, while the victim was going through the bushes and came in contact with the charged 11 KV snapped conductor and got electrocuted.
The post-mortem report also confirmed the death is due to high tension electric current. Rs 10,000 from Red Cross and Rs 2, 000 from panchayat was paid to the relatives of the deceased.
However, the commission felt that the compensation amount is too low and the incident occurred due to the negligence of Energy Department officials. So, it issued a show-cause why Rs 3 lakh compensation should not be paid to the victim’s kin.