Srinagar, Dec 13: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh awarded a compensation of more than Rs 30.00 lacs to a minor child, who suffered permanent disability due to electrocution caused by coming in direct contact with live 33000 KV high tension (HT) line passing through adjacent to his residential house situated at MantrigamBandipora.
The court of Justice Javed Iqbal Wani directed the Power Development Department (PDD) to pay an amount of Rs. 30,20,000 along with interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of filing of the petition till the date of actual deposit to the victim petitioner on account of permanent disability caused to the minor victim.
The court directed the authorities to deposit the same in a Fixed Deposit Account in the name of the victim, a minor, represented by his father as a natural guardian till the age of attaining majority by the victim in a nationalized Bank.
The bench further directed that the monthly interest that would be earned on the amount of compensation during the period of minority of the victim shall be withdrawn by the father of the victim and spent upon him as monthly expenses including treatment.
As per the plea, the petitioner, a minor of the age of 5 to 6 years old, in 2018 came in a direct contact with live 33000 KV HT line passing through adjacent to his residential house situated at MantrigamBandipora, where the victim is stated to have been residing with his family.
The said HT line, the plea stated, have been knowingly installed by the respondents adjacent to the residential house in question despite objections raised by the inhabitants of the village including father of the minor kid.
The plea stated that the petitioner has suffered severe burn injuries on account of electrocution and consequently was admitted in SMHS hospital Srinagar on November, 17, 2018 for treatment wherein he was operated on a number of times resulting into amputation of his right hand, thumb of the left hand, finger of right foot, besides burnt injuries to the whole body.
The petitioner through his counsel submitted that the victim besides having received treatment at SMHS hospital Srinagar, was also shifted to Delhi for further treatment inasmuch as to have rehabilitation process availed including for providing an artificial limb with costs of Rs. 13,36,633 as assessed by the authorities at Delhi.
The counsel submitted that the parents of the minor have incurred an amount of Rs. 2 lacs for getting their child treated at Delhi.
The petitioner had sought a direction to the respondents to pay an amount of Rs. 1.22 Crores along with interest at the bank rate to the minor victim through his father.
