SHILLONG: In a landmark judgement, the High Court of Meghalaya has directed the State Government and Meghalaya Energy Cooperation Limited to pay adequate compensation for one Anita Sangma who died on February 2, 2012 due to electrocution at Police Reserve Complex.
Justice SR Sen in his order, passed on April 17, stated that the respondents- the State Government and MeECL are liable to pay adequate compensation to the petitioner -Sukendra Sangma for the death of his daughter-in-law.
It was in February 9, 2012 when Anita Sangma died due to electrocution while trying to save a lady from uncoated and unprotected high tension electric wires and the post mortem report confirmed that the cause of the death was electrocution.
The court further ordered that while calculating compensation, the State Government and MeECL must follow the death method of calculation as made in the case of Skilinda Lawphniaw versus MeECL.
According to Court, out of the compensation amount, 60 per cent should be kept in a fixed deposit in the name of two minor children of Anita Sangma while 40 per cent should be used for immediate need of the children and their education.
The Court also directed the State Government and MeECL to remove all high tension electric wires lines from public places as well as from overhead of the residential houses, adding Court also ordered that rules laid down for safety measures should be followed strictly as laid down in the different rules and action.
The Court was also of the view that State Government and MeECL should not have laid high voltage transmission line overhead of the building which has been used for human habitation .