High Court Directs Karnataka Govt. To Consider Compensating Parents Of A School Child Who Died Of Electrocution While Erecting Flagpole

Advocate BV Vidyulatha who was appointed as amicus curiae in the suo-motu petition brought to the notice of the court a report appearing in the Hindu Newspaper of August 16. It was stated in the newspaper report that 3 boys were preparing to hoist the national flag on Independence Day when they came in contact with a live wire in the premises of a government school at Karikere village in Tumkur. All of them were taken to hospital however, unfortunately, one of them namely Chandan died. The other two are undergoing treatment.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice N S Sanjay Gowda said,

"We direct the state government to instruct the concerned Deputy Commissioner to look into the said incident. The State government shall consider immediately offering compensation to parents of the deceased boy. The State shall also ensure that proper medical treatment is extended to the other two boys (Shashank and Pawan). The Deputy Commissioner of the district shall ensure that both of them get proper medical treatment. State shall consider bearing the cost of treatment."

The court said, "Compliance with the above directions shall be made within a period of two weeks from today. The Deputy Commissioner shall file a detailed report, he shall also produce the cause of death certificate and medical certificate of health status of the other two boys. On the next date of hearing the court will also consider the compliance of direction issued under order Of October 30, 2019."

Background:

The suo-motu petition was initiated in 2019, based on a letter pointing to an unfortunate incident of death of the minor students in a Backward Classes Pre-Metric Boys' Hostel run by the State Government. The five students were directed to remove the flag pole which came in contact with an electric line of 11 KV watts which was very close to the building in which the hostel is situated. The five students died due to an electric shock.

Several orders have been passed in the PIL until now. Order dated October 30, 2019 notes that total compensation of Rs 10 lakh has to be paid to parents of the unfortunate children and other directions were issued under the said order.

The matter will be next heard on September 6.

Case Title: All India Lawyers Union (Suo Motu) and The State of Karnataka

Case No: WP 38953/2019