Having lost three limbs in a high tension wire electrocution three years ago, eight-year-old Raman has got some succour from the Supreme Court which has enhanced his compensation from `30 lakh to `60 lakh considering how the permanent disability reduced him into a “deadwood” at an early age.
The Court spared compassion for the young boy who met this tragedy in August 2011 by contacting an exposed live wire on the roof of his house in Panipat. Despite destiny serving such a crucial blow to his fate at the prime of his life, a fact which was considered by a single judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, his family fell into utter despair as the single judge’s order awarding `60 lakh compensation got halved by a two-judge bench of the same HC.
Setting aside this order passed on October 30, 2013, the apex bench underlined the need for a just and reasonable compensation considering the young age, 100 per cent permanent disability and the physical and mental trauma caused due to the incident. The North Haryana Electricity Supply Undertaking opposed the petition and held fault with the petitioner’s father who failed to cover the naked wire. But the apex court turned down this argument and held that the authority was responsible for leaving the live wire exposed.
Assisted by amicus curiae Anil Malhotra, the bench of Justices V Gopala Gowda and C Nagappan said, “He is virtually dead wood and…He has to face difficulties on all walks of life, which is worse that death. His childhood is lost, the marital status and happiness is lost which cannot be compensated in terms of money.” left with no arms and just a right leg, he would require a permanent attendant all his life.
The Court ordered that of the total sum, a fixed deposit of `30 lakh will be opened in the name of his parents who will receive `20,000 per month towards medical expenses and can enjoy the entire amount even if the victim does not survive till attaining majority.