Tangedco ordered to pay relief to kin of victim

Madurai: The Madras high court has directed Tangedco to pay a compensation of 10.71 lakh to the family members of a man who died after an electric pole fell on him in 2010.
The court was hearing the petition filed by V Chellam. The petitioner stated that her husband was working as a record clerk in a cooperative society. On September 19, 2010, when her husband was going in his two-wheeler, the pole fell on his vehicle.Her husband sustained grievous injuries and died a few days later.
The petitioner stated that the electric pole fell down on her husband’s vehicle due to Tangedco’s negligence. She stated that she had spent nearly 2 lakh for her husband’s treatment in a private hospital. Hence, she moved HC Madurai bench in 2011, seeking 10 lakh compensation. In the counter, Tangedco contended that the pole was meant for erection of street lights which is under the control and maintenance of the Madurai Corporation. Hence, the corporation is responsible for the incident.
However, the corporation, in it counter, stated that poles were erected by Tangedco. So, the maintenance of the wires and poles were vested only with Tangedco. Taking cognizance of the submissions, justice R Vijayakumar observed that the pole as well as the wires have to be maintained only by Tangedco and not by the corporation.
The manner in which the accident occurred would reveal that the pole was not maintained properly and had fallen down on its own. The judge observed that it is clear that the accident happened only due to the negligence on the part of the Tangedco authorities and hence they are liable to pay compensation.TNN