Jaisalmer Consumer Commission Holds Electricity Department Liable for House Fire
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Jaisalmer delivered a significant verdict on Tuesday, finding the local electricity department guilty of serious negligence in a case where a house caught fire due to contact between power lines. The commission has ordered the department to pay Rs 4.08 lakh in compensation to the affected homeowner.
Compensation Breakdown and Legal Directive
The bench, comprising Commission Chairman and Presiding Officer Pawan Kumar Ojha and Member Ramesh Kumar Gaud, issued a detailed compensation order. The breakdown includes:
- Rs 3.95 lakh for property loss and damage to household items.
- Rs 10,000 for mental agony and distress suffered by the complainant.
- Rs 3,000 to cover litigation expenses incurred during the proceedings.
The commission has mandated that the electricity department must pay this amount within 45 days. Failure to comply will result in an additional interest charge of 9% per annum applied to the entire compensation sum, emphasizing the urgency of the directive.
Incident Details and Evidence Presented
According to Commission Private Secretary Sudhansh Soni, the complainant, Rugh Singh from Thaiyat village in Jaisalmer, was a regular electricity consumer who consistently paid his bills on time. The fire incident occurred when the domestic power connection line came into direct contact with the nearby Basanpir agricultural high-tension (HT) line.
This contact allowed high-tension electrical current to flow into the house, triggering a devastating fire. The blaze resulted in extensive property damage, destroying numerous household items including:
- A refrigerator and cooler
- A flour mill and bed
- Clothing and plastic chairs
- Foodgrain stocks: 50 sacks of jowar and 40 sacks of bajra
- One sheep that was electrocuted in the incident
Rugh Singh immediately reported the incident to both the electricity department and local police authorities. He provided comprehensive documentary evidence to support his claim, including electricity bills, photographs of the damage, official reports from relevant authorities, and even a postmortem report for the electrocuted sheep.
Commission's Findings on Departmental Responsibility
The Commission thoroughly examined all evidence presented and concluded that it conclusively established negligence on the part of the electricity department. In their ruling, the commission reiterated the fundamental responsibility of power supply authorities to ensure safe electrical infrastructure and proper maintenance of power lines.
The verdict emphasizes that compensating consumers for losses resulting from departmental negligence is not just a legal obligation but a fundamental aspect of consumer protection in utility services. This case sets an important precedent for holding utility providers accountable for infrastructure failures that result in property damage and personal loss.
The Jaisalmer Consumer Commission's decision underscores the critical importance of maintaining electrical safety standards and highlights the legal recourse available to consumers when utility providers fail in their duty of care. The ruling serves as a reminder to all utility departments across the region about their responsibility to maintain safe power distribution systems and promptly address potential hazards in their infrastructure.
