Gujarat Court Awards Rs 58.77 Lakh Compensation to Family of Electrocuted Farmer
In a landmark ruling, a civil court in Jasdan, Gujarat, has ordered Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL) to pay compensation of Rs 58.77 lakh to the family of Hitesh Ramani, a 34-year-old farmer who died from electrocution on his farm eight years ago. The court directed the state-run electricity distribution company to provide the sum with 9% simple interest, holding it fully liable for the tragic incident that occurred on March 19, 2018.
Tragic Incident and Family's Plight
Hitesh Ramani was watering his field in Lilapur village when he came into contact with a live wire, suffering a fatal high-voltage electric shock. His brother discovered his burned body next to a dish cable wire after he failed to return home. A postmortem report confirmed that Ramani died from cardiorespiratory arrest due to the electrocution.
The family faced immense hardship, as Ramani was the sole breadwinner. His father is paralysed, and he left behind three children. Compounding the tragedy, Ramani's wife had passed away just months before the accident, leaving the family in dire straits. Following his death, his mother filed a compensation suit seeking Rs 70 lakh from PGVCL and local cable operators, arguing for financial support to sustain the bereaved household.
Court's Ruling on Negligence and Liability
In court, PGVCL attempted to shift blame, arguing that they were not negligent and that their 11KV wire had not broken. Instead, they pointed fingers at local cable network operators, alleging that an unauthorized dish cable tied to electricity poles caused the electrocution.
However, Principal Senior Civil Judge K N Dave rejected this defense. Advocate P R Desai explained that the court ruled under legal principles, emphasizing that the primary responsibility for maintaining potentially hazardous electric lines safely rests with the electricity supplier. The court noted in its January 22 order that PGVCL failed to produce documentary evidence demonstrating proper maintenance of the 11KV line at the incident site or adequate precautions to prevent unauthorized cables from interfering with high-voltage wires.
The judgment stated that a normal cable wire would not carry enough current to kill a person without PGVCL's negligence, thereby holding the company entirely accountable for the electrocution.
Compensation Breakdown and Final Award
The final compensation amount of Rs 58.77 lakh was meticulously calculated based on Ramani's income tax returns and dairy sales. The award includes:
- Rs 56,01,624 for loss of income
- Rs 18,000 for funeral expenses
- Rs 18,000 for loss of estate
- Rs 2.4 lakh as a conventional amount for loss of love and affection
PGVCL has been ordered to pay this sum with interest accruing from the date the suit was originally filed until full payment is made. This ruling serves as a significant precedent for holding utility companies accountable for safety lapses and providing justice to victims' families in similar cases.
