NHRC directs UP electricity board to pay due compensation

NHRC, New Delhi, has directed UP Power Corporation Limited to compensate with rupees three lakhs to the widow of one Ram Chandra Bari who had died in an electric accident in Lakhimpuri-Kheri of Uttar Pradesh in 2006.
CJ: JANADHIKAR Reporter..

Mon, Jun 13, 2011

THE CHAIRMAN of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) got directed by NHRC for immediate payment of rupees three lakhs in an electrocution death case. The National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi, has rejected plea of (UPPCL) through a report dated June 10 2009, sent to NHRC from the side of Senior Executive Officer that it had already paid rupees fifty thousand as ex-gratia to widow of one Ram Chandra Bari, aged 35.

Ram Chandra Bari had met with an electric accident and died on the spot on July 18, 2006 at Dhaurahara area in Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh. The NHRC vide its order in Case No. 19732/24/2006-2007 dated May 13, 2011, directed to UPPCL, Lucknow, to pay rupees three lakhs by way of compensation and adjust rupees fifty thousand paid earlier to the widow of deceased.

The Commission remarked that compensation paid earlier of rupees fifty thousand is very small and inadequate in view of loss of life of a young man of 35 years, who was working for UPPCL’s sub-station for the last 4-5 years in an honorary capacity. The fact that the deceased Ram Chandra Bari was an honorary employee working for an electric sub-station was revealed in the report of senior superintendent of Police, Lakhimpur.

The deceased was a resident of Keshwakalan of Lakhimpur district. It was demanded that the UPPCL complies with the order and report as filed by the NHRC in four weeks time.

The case was highlighted to the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi, by Janadhikar activist Anand Mohan Bhatham, who engaged himself in Janadhikar Campaign to deliver the justice to the dependents of people who die in electrocution and its related cases.

A resident of Gola Gokarannath area of Lakhimpur and a human rights activist, Bhatham reported this death case to NHRC vide petition No. Janadhikar/Pari-NHRC/2006/1998, dated July 21, 2006. Bahtam got selflessly involved himself in country’s first of its kind campaign for electrocution accidents affected people.
merinews.com