NHRC notice to Delhi govt over teenager electrocution

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent a notice to the Delhi government over the electrocution of a teenager in the city's Dilshad Garden area in May, allegedly due to negligence of a power discom.
The NHRC took cognisance of the incident on the basis of a complaint that Robin Thomas, a GTB Enclave resident, died due to electric shock from a broken live wire, the rights panel said today.
The commission has served the notice to the chief secretary to show cause why a sum of Rs 3 lakh may not be recommended to be paid to the next of kin of the victim, who was electrocuted on May 21 due to the "negligence on part of M/s BSES Yamuna Power Ltd".

The discom has been directed to submit a report on safety measures taken to avoid such accidents. They have been given four weeks to submit the report, the NHRC said in a statement.
"Ensuring proper maintenance of the electrical lines and providing adequate safety measures is the only way out for protection from electric shock during rain or thunder showers, which in the instant case, the BSES Yamuna Power appears to have failed to provide," the NHRC observed.
The power department's deputy secretary, has clearly said that the accident could have been avoided, if earth-guarding was provided under the said overhead line, the commission said.

The rights panel also observed that "undoubtedly, contact with electricity can cause loss of a life and therefore, safety measures are taken to ensure that people dont come in direct contact with it."
"Hence, the BSES report cannot be accepted that there was no negligence on part of the BYPL officials," it added.