HC directs civic, power bodies to pay compensation to woman

Madras High Court today directed Madurai City Corporation and Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) to pay a compensation of Rs 4.92 lakh to a woman, whose husband was electrocuted in 2011 when he tried to tie his cows to an electric pole.
Justice V M Velumani of Madurai bench rejected the contention of the TANGEDCO that it was not responsible for the electrocution as the electric pole was maintained by Madurai City Corporation.
The counsel for the widow S Thevani submitted that the TANGEDCO and city corporation officials were responsible for negligence.
Velumani's husband Subramani Konar was electrocuted when he accidentally came in contact with the fuse box fixed at the electric pole which remained open while tying his cows and calf to the pole on August 6, 2011.

She claimed a compensation of Rs 10 lakh as her husband, who was rearing milch cows, was the only earning member of the family.
The Corporation Commissioner contended that Konar should not have tied his cows and calf in the electric poles. The petitioner's husband died due to his negligence.

The TANGEDCO officials submitted that the maintenance of electric poles is the responsibility of the city corporation.
The judge said the fuse box in the electric pole were opened and the TANGEDCO cannot say the city corporation was responsible for its maintenance. It was also the duty of TANGEDCO to maintain electric poles as well the fittings on it, the judge said

Both the TANGEDCO and the city corporation should pay compensation of Rs 2,46,0000 each to the widow within eight weeks, the ordered.