Grant ₹10 lakh compensation to parents of teen electrocuted while trying to hoist national flag: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Monday opined that the compensation of ₹1 lakh granted to the kin of a student who was electrocuted after a pole he was carrying to hoist the national flag on Independence Day came in contact with a live wire, is meagre. .A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum observed, "A compensation of one lakh paid to the family of the unfortunate child who was electrocuted while erecting pole to hoist national flag.....For a similar instance in August 18, 2019, a compensation of 10 lakh was paid to the family of the child who was electrocuted. However, only one lakh paid in the present case. It is unfortunate.".The Court further directed the the State government as well as the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) to award a compensation of ₹10 lakh to the family of the deceased. "Compensation to be granted by the State government and KPTCL has to follow same standard of the order dated August 18, 2021."An order to this effect has to be passed within 30 days. .The Court further directed the authorities to take a decision regarding compensating other children who were injured while erecting the flag on Independence Day..During the hearing, the State government filed a fact-finding survey submitted by the Deputy Commissioner. The said report said that the children felt motivated and attempted to hoist the flag. This, however, reveals that the Deputy Commissioner, "in connivance with school authorities, is trying to give a different colour to the issue," the Court said. Moreover, minor children will never try to something of this kind without the direct instructions of the Principal and teachers, the Court added. .Clarifying the point whether the electric line was shifted from the school premises, the report said that it had been slightly shifted. In this regard, the Court said,"This Court does not understand what "slightly shifted" means. The entire shifting has to be done to ensure that the 11 KB line not passing through the school premises. The KTPCL is directed to shift 11 KB line within 30 days.".However, counsel appearing for KTPCL informed the Bench that the line of 11 KB would not come under its jurisdiction. Thereafter, the Court issued notice to all licensing authorities. .During the previous hearing, the Court had directed the State government to offer compensation to the kin of a student who died of electrocution..The Court was hearing a suo motu petition initiated in 2019, based on a letter highlighting the incident of death of a minor student in a Backward Classes Pre-Metric Boys' Hostel run by the State government..The present incident had taken place at a government school in Karikere village, on August 15 this year, when 16-year-old Chandan was electrocuted after a pole he was carrying to hoist the national flag on Independence Day came into contact with a live overhead wire. Two other boys were also similarly electrocuted. While Chandan died immediately, the other two are undergoing treatment at Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Hospital, Tumakuru.Advocate BV Vidyulatha, who is the amicus curiae in the case, had brought to the notice of the Court that in the hostels for backward class students, toilets, drinking water, food, etc are below par. Sometimes, the children have to bathe in public, she apprised the Court. On a previous date of hearing, the Court had called for a report to understand the conditions of the said hostels. However, that report was not filed till today, the Court noted. .The matter will be next heard on November 17.