NHRC issues notice to UP energy department

Two girls were electrocuted in village Pradhanpur of Jaunpur district on July 11 due to the alleged failure on part of a Junior Engineer and a lineman

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh energy department to inquire into the delay in payment of additional compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of two minor girls, who were electrocuted in Jaunpur district in July 2011.

Two dalit girls Kajal (9) and Shikha (10) were electrocuted in village Pradhanpur of Jaunpur district on July 11, 2011 due to the alleged failure on part of a Junior Engineer (JE) and a lineman of the electricity department.

Apart from issuing notice to the UP energy department principal secretary, the NHRC has asked the Jaunpur Superintendent of Police (SP) to inquire into inaction and delay in not making the concerned JE and lineman accused in the case and filing a chargesheet against them in court.

Both the officers have been given six weeks time to submit the proof of payment along with the action taken report in the matter by their respective departments.

NHRC member Justice D Murugesan expressed dissatisfaction over the response of the concerned authorities to the show cause notice issued earlier by the Commission that the JE had superannuated and the lineman had been put under suspension.

The Commission noted the statutory inquiry had indicted both the personnel, but the JE was allowed to retire on December 31, 2011 and the lineman was placed under suspension only on December 6, 2014.

It lamented only a 'meagre' amount of financial relief of Rs one lakh each had been paid to the next of kin of both the electrocuted girls after about two years following the incident.

The Commission observed the sequence of events spoke volumes about the state of affairs in the UP energy department.

It said the compensation of Rs one lakh was meager and that an additional Rs 2 lakh each be paid as interim relief.

In its inquiry, the Commission had concluded the JE and the lineman had violated provisions of Rule 29 (1) of Indian Electricity Manual, 1956 in non-maintaining the transmission lines properly that led to the two death.