Disposed¶51

Thangam v. Tamil Nadu General and Distribution Corporation Limited (Tangedco)

Madras HC28 Jan 2026WP(MD)/1232/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Electrocution death; compensation; TANGEDCO / Tamil Nadu Electricity Board; LT line snapped in heavy rain; poor maintenance of wire; Board Circular Rs.5 lakhs; negligence not required for compensation; Article 226 writ of mandamus; 7.5% per annum interest; WP(MD)No.1232 of 2024; WMP(MD)No.1262 of 2024; W.A(MD)No.1978 of 2023 relied on; Madurai Bench of Madras High Court; Krishnan Ramasamy J.

What did the court decide?

Compensation of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakhs only) with interest at 7.5% per annum from the date of death of the first petitioner's wife till the date of disbursal, directed to be paid by respondents 1 and 3 to 6 within four weeks from receipt of a copy of the order. ¶51

Thangam Vs Tamil Nadu General and Distribution… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether respondents 1 and 3 are liable to pay compensation to the petitioners for the electrocution death of the first petitioner's wife, and in what amount. +1 more

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Court's answer

There is no dispute that the death occurred due to electrocution: due to heavy rain the LT line snapped and fell in the agricultural land where the first petitioner's wife was found dead, which the court attributed purely to poor maintenance of the wire by the Electricity Board.

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Ratio / Principle

Even in the absence of establishing any negligence on the part of the Electricity Board, the victim is entitled to compensation of Rs.5 Lakhs as per the Board Circular.

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Key takeaways

Respondents 1 and 3 to 6 were directed to pay compensation of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakhs only) to the petitioners with interest at 7.5% per annum from the date of death of the first petitioner's wife till the date of disbursal, within four weeks from receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶49

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court, Madurai Bench (Krishnan Ramasamy J., order dated 28.01.2026) disposed of WP(MD)No.1232 of 2024, filed under Article 226 seeking a writ of mandamus directing TANGEDCO to pay Rs.15 lakhs with 7.5% interest for the electrocution death of the first petitioner's wife. The court found no dispute that the death was due to electrocution caused by an LT line that snapped in heavy rain and fell in the agricultural land, attributing it purely to poor maintenance of the wire by the Electricity Board. Relying on the Division Bench judgment in W.A(MD)No.1978 of 2023 (The Chairman, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Chennai and 3 others vs. C.Karna Maharaja) and the Board Circular, the court held that even without proof of negligence the victim is entitled to Rs.5 lakhs, and directed respondents 1 and 3 to 6 to pay Rs.5,00,000 with 7.5% per annum interest from the date of death till the date of disbursal within four weeks. Writ petition disposed of; no costs.

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WP(MD). No.1232 of 2024

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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Dated : 28/01/2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY

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WP(MD)No.1232 of 2024 and

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WMP(MD)No.1262 of 2024

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Thangam 2. T.Pandi 3. T.Pandi

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T.Pal Pandi

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... Petitioners

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Vs.

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Tamil Nadu General and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), Rep. by its Chairman, No. 144, Anna Salai, Chennai 2.

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The District Collector, District Collectorate, Madurai 20.

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The Chief Engineer, Tamil Nadu General and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), Madurai Electricity Distribution Region, Madurai District.

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1/8

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

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WP(MD). No.1232 of 2024

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The Superintending Engineer, Tamil Nadu General and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), Race Course Road, Madurai 7.

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The Executive Engineer (Distribution), Tamil Nadu General and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), S.S. Complex, Usilampatti, Madurai District.

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The Assistant Executive Engineer (Distribution), Tamil Nadu General and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), S.S. Complex, Elumalai, Madurai District. ... Respondents

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PRAYER :- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent Nos.1 and 3 to provide compensation to the tune of Rs.15 Lakhs along with 7.5 percentage interest per annum to the petitioners for the electrocution death of 1^st petitioner's Wife and the mother of the other petitioners within a time frame.

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For Petitioner : Mr.S.Stevenson for Mr.S.Rajasekar For R1 & R3 to R6 : Mr.S.Deenadhayalan For R2 : Mrs.K.Malathi

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2/8

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

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WP(MD). No.1232 of 2024

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Additional Government Pleader

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ORDER

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WMP(MD)No.1262 of 2024 filed to allow the

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petitioners to join together and file a single writ petition, is allowed.

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The prayer in this writ petition is to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent Nos.1 and 3 to provide compensation to the tune of Rs.15 Lakhs along with 7.5 percentage interest per annum to the petitioners for the electrocution death of the 1^st petitioner's wife and the mother of the other petitioners within a time frame.

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Learned standing counsel appearing for TANGEDCO would submit that the 1^st petitioner's wife voluntarily snapped the wire and therefore, the accident occurred. But however, as per the Board Circular, if at all there is any compensation payable, Rs.5 Lakhs alone can be awarded.

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3/8

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

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WP(MD). No.1232 of 2024

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Heard both sides and perused the materials available

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on record.

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There is no dispute on the aspect of accident occurred due to electrocution. Due to heavy rain, LT line was snapped and fallen down in the agricultural land, in which the 1^st petitioner's wife was found dead. Thus it is purely due to the poor maintenance of the wire by the Electricity Board. Even in the absence of establishing any negligence on the part of the Electricity Board, the victim is entitled for compensation of Rs.5 Lakhs as per the Board Circular. In this regard, it is relevant to extract below paragraphs 3 and 5 of the Division Bench judgment in W.A(MD)No.1978 of 2023, dated 16.11.2023 [The Chairman, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Chennai and 3 others vs. C.Karna Maharaja] :

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'' 3.The allegation of the writ petitioner was that the Electricity Board Officials asked the son of the writ petitioner to stand and help them. We are not inclined to

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4/8

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

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WP(MD). No.1232 of 2024

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go into the said allegation, since such allegations are to be established only through evidences and by examining the witnesses if required. As far as the compensation granted by the learned Single Judge is concerned, even as per the Electricity Board proceedings, the victim is entitled for a compensation of Rs.5 Lakhs on account of death due to electrocution. Even in the absence of establishing any negligence or otherwise on the part of the Electricity Board Officials, the victim is entitled for compensation of Rs.5 Lakhs.

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4. .....

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5. As far as the compensation granted in the Writ proceedings is concerned, it is based on the Board proceedings, for which the victim is entitled and thus, we do not find any infirmity in respect of the order under challenge. Therefore, the appellants are directed to pay the compensation amount of Rs.5 Lakhs along with interest at the rate of 7% per annum from the date of the death of the deceased boy to the respondent / writ petitioner within a period of eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. ''

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Such being the case, when the accident due to

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5/8

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

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WP(MD). No.1232 of 2024

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electrocution is admitted, as per the Board Circular, the respondents / TANGEDCO are liable to pay compensation. Accordingly, the respondents 1 and 3 to 6 are directed to pay compensation of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakhs only) to the petitioners along with interest at the rate of 7.5% per annum from the date of death of the 1^st petitioner's wife till the date of disbursal, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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With the above direction, the Writ Petition stands

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disposed of. No costs.

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28.01.2026 Index : Yes / No Neutral Citation : Yes / No bala

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The Chairman, Tamil Nadu General and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), No. 144, Anna Salai,

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6/8

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

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WP(MD). No.1232 of 2024

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Chennai 2.

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The District Collector, District Collectorate, Madurai 20.

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The Chief Engineer, Tamil Nadu General and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), Madurai Electricity Distribution Region, Madurai District.

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The Superintending Engineer, Tamil Nadu General and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), Race Course Road, Madurai 7.

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The Executive Engineer (Distribution), Tamil Nadu General and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), S.S. Complex, Usilampatti, Madurai District.

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The Assistant Executive Engineer (Distribution), Tamil Nadu General and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), S.S. Complex, Elumalai, Madurai District.

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7/8

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

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WP(MD). No.1232 of 2024

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KRISHNAN RAMASAMY, J.

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bala

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ORDER MADE IN WP(MD) No.1232 of 2024