Allahabad High Court Awards ₹26.65 Lakh Compensation to Man Who Lost Both Hands in Childhood Electrocution Accident
By Rajesh Pandey
In a significant judgment, the Allahabad High Court has granted major relief to a man who lost both his hands as a child nearly 29 years ago due to alleged negligence by the electricity department.
The Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board to pay ₹26.65 lakh as compensation to the victim, bringing long-awaited justice in a case that dates back to 1997.
The order was passed by Justice Sandeep Jain while allowing a first appeal filed by the victim, Pappu, who was only seven years old at the time of the tragic incident.
According to the case details, the accident occurred in March 1997 when young Pappu was playing near a primary school in the Nagla Padi area of Agra.
An 11,000-volt electricity transformer had been installed there without proper fencing or any safety cover.
During play, the child accidentally came into contact with the transformer and suffered severe electric burns.
Doctors were forced to amputate both his hands below the shoulders to save his life.
Initially, a compensation suit filed through Pappu’s father was dismissed by a trial court in 2005, which attributed the incident to the child’s own negligence.
However, the decision was challenged before the High Court, which carefully examined the circumstances and overturned the earlier ruling.
Setting aside the judgment dated October 29, 2005, passed by the Additional District Judge, Agra, the High Court held that the earlier conclusion blaming the child was not justified.
The Court observed that the electricity department had a duty to ensure proper safety measures around such high-voltage installations, especially in areas accessible to children.
Justice Jain ruled that Pappu is entitled to compensation of ₹26.65 lakh for the life-altering injuries he suffered.
The Court further directed that the amount shall carry interest at the rate of six percent per annum from May 30, 1997 — the date when the case was originally filed — until the amount is fully paid.
In addition to the compensation, the Court also ordered the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board to bear the costs of the legal proceedings, including court fees incurred during both the trial and appeal stages.
The judgment, delivered on April 15, directs the electricity department to pay the compensation within one month.
If the payment is not made within the stipulated time, the victim has been given liberty to initiate execution proceedings for the recovery of the amount.
The ruling not only provides financial relief to the victim but also underscores the responsibility of public authorities to ensure safety in public spaces, particularly where children are at risk.
The decision serves as a reminder that negligence in maintaining essential infrastructure can have devastating and lifelong consequences.
( The Image of the Child is AI-generated)
