Parents Seek Rs 5-cr Relief For Loss Of Son Due To Electrocution; Delhi HC Notice To AAP Govt, BSES Yamuna [Read Petition]

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Delhi government and BSES Yamuna on the plea of bereaved parents claiming compensation of  Rs 5,02 crore for the death of their son, a 12th grader who died of electrocution from a fallen overhead line in Dilshad Garden here.

Justice AK Chawla issued notice on the petition moved by Devasia Thomas and his wife Reena Devasia claiming compensation for the death of their 18-year-old son Robin due to willful negligence of the authorities concerned.

The parents sought compensation for the loss of love and company of their son who was a brilliant student set to have a bright and fulfilling career and for their daughter having lost a loving brother.

Their counsel Wills Mathews informed the court that Robin died an unnatural death because of willful negligence of the authorities concerned as the locals had been complaining about the fault in the cable and frequent fires and sparks in the electric pole from which the wire had fallen.

He informed the court that due to the untimely death of Robin, his sister, an eighth grader, has gone into depression and was undergoing treatment for the same, while Devasia Thomas’ job in Dubai is also suffering since he is now staying with the family in Delhi.

He said the family is shattered emotionally and financially due to the loss.

In the instant case, on May 21, 2017, Robin had gone out to play football with his friends in a park in the vicinity while his mother, a nursing officer at GTB Hospital, was resting at home after work.

After some time, she received a phone call from one of Robin’s friends, who informed her that Robin has suffered electric shock. He was raced to GTB hospital but was declared brought dead.

The petition said that Robin lay in shock on the road for 20 minutes but BSES officials, who were informed about the incident, could not turn off the power supply in time.

It said though after the incident the BSES changed the cable, other similarly dangerous lines remain as such.

Mathews told the court that the “the illegal and irresponsible omission of the respondent no. 1 and 2 in periodical checking of the conditions of the electric line, by neglecting the Rules and regulations regarding supply of electricity are resulting in such accidents”.

The parents claimed a compensation of  Rs 5,02,21,600, saying the “illegal action /inaction of the respondents resulted in ruining the personal life, social life and the career of the petitioners”.

“The deceased son of the petitioners was a brilliant student, very good in academics and sports, an all rounder, who died at an age of 18, and would have lived till the age of 80 years as per the prevailing trends and family history, and could have earned around Rs. 3 lakh per month from the age of 25, as he was planning to go to the US for further studies, and he could have worked till the age of 70. That is he could have worked for 45 years. He was also entitled to annual increase in his salary,” they said while also computing loss of companionship, love and affection, security of their son, while their daughter lost a loving brother.