Dineshkumar Vs The Chief Engineer (Operation and Distribution)

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to pay compensation of Rs.20,00,000 for electrocution of the petitioner's father on 12.12.2024 by considering petitioner's representation dated 18.06.2025 within a time frame by this Court.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD) No.20347 of 2025

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For Petitioner : Mr.J.Senthil Kumaraiah

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For Respondents : Mr.S.Deenadhayalan standing counsel

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ORDER

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Mr.S.Deenadhayalan, learned standing counsel takes notice for the

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respondents.

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2.This writ petition is disposed of at the time of admission after hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned standing counsel for the respondents.

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3.This writ petition has been filed for a Mandamus to direct the respondents to pay compensation of Rs.20,00,000/- for electrocution of the petitioner's father on 12.12.2024, by considering petitioner's representation dated 18.06.2025.

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4.It appears that the petitioner's father was involved in an accident and died due to electrocution on 12.12.2024. In this connection, the petitioner has given a complaint, based on which, an FIR in Crime No.517 of 2024 has been registered

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W.P.(MD) No.20347 of 2025

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by the Usilampatti Town Police Station, Madurai, for the offence under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, recording the time of the accident as 03.15 pm., on 12.12.2024.

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5.It is noticed that there is a Board proceedings, dated 21.12.2024 bearing Ref.No.(Per) (FB) TNPDCL Proceedings No.11 of the Administrative Branch of the respondents, wherein it has been clarified as under:-

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“ PROCEEDINGS:

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In the Proceedings first read above, orders were issued enhancing the payment of Compensation to the legal heirs of the NonDepartmental persons/animals in case of death due to Electrical/Mechanical Accidents as follows:-

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1. For Fatal	= Rs.5,00,000/-
2. For Non-Fatal
a) Loss of two limbs or two eyes	= Rs.2,00,000/-
b) Loss of one limb or one eye.	= Rs.1,00,000/-
3. Animals
(Cow/Buffalow/Bullock)	= Rs.25,000/-

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2) Usually fatal electrical accidents occur when the victims come into contact with snapped conductor and live wire from the overhead lines and also because of leakage of electricity in the case of under ground cables due to natural calamities like heavy wind, rain etc. and other unforeseen causes. On such happenings, as and when the legal heirs of the deceased approaches the Court, there are instances wherein enhanced compensation has been ordered by the Courts with interest to the dependants and this causes huge financial loss to the organization. In order to mitigate the suffering of legal heirs due to the loss of their

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W.P.(MD) No.20347 of 2025

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loved family members, the Hon'ble Minister for Electricity has announced in the Assembly on 22.02.2024 enhancing the compensation amount of 100% in case of Fatal and 50% in case of Non-Fatal accident to Non-Departmental Persons.

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Accordingly, as a gesture of goodwill, the proposal submitted to the Board for consideration to enhance the compensation amount to the legal heirs of the victims and the affected persons has been approved by the Board of TNPDCL in its 126^th Board meeting held on 25.11.2024 as follows:-

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*Sl.No.*	*Mode of* *Accident*	*Existing*	*Enhanced*	*Competent Au*	*thorities*
1	For Fatal	Rs.5,00,000/-	Rs.10,00,000/-
2	2. For Non- Fatal a) Loss of two limbs or two eyes b) Loss of one limb or one eye.	Rs.2,00,000/- Rs.1,00,000/-	Rs.3,00,000/- Rs.1,50,000/-	Concerned Engineer's	Chief
3	3.Animals (Cow/Buffalow/ Bullock)	Rs.25,000/-	Rs.25,000/- (No change as mentioned in B.P.No.6, dt., 16.10.2019

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3) The above enhanced rates of compensation shall be paid to the victims on incidents reported on or after the date of approval of the Board .e., 25.11.2024.”

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W.P.(MD) No.20347 of 2025

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6.Considering the same, the second respondent is directed to consider the issue and assess the compensation that is payable to the petitioner's father, without prejudice to the rights of the petitioner to claim additional compensation, if any case is made out. This exercise shall be completed within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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