New Delhi, Nov 8 (PTI) National Human Rights Commission today asked Tata-owned private discom to pay Rs three lakh each to the kin of three persons who were electrocuted due to its "negligence". The Commission asked CEO of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd to submit a compliance report along with proof of payment within six weeks after the receipt of the directions, an NHRC statement said, adding that the company was trying to take shelter under technicalities, which are of no help. "There is a prima-facie case of negligence on the part of the Discom as made out in the report of the Electrical Inspector and the company is fully aware of this. Hence, it has to pay monetary relief to the family of the victims," the statement said. Shambhu Nadh Gupta (45), his daughter Suraj (13) and Prem Prasad (40) years were electrocuted when they came in contact with a live wire inside a pool of water at a road strech in Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar on November 17, 2010. "The Assistant Electrical Inspector, Government of NCT of Delhi in his enquiry report indicted both the NDPL, now known as TPDDL, and one consumer Lajja Ram. An FIR was also lodged against the both," the statement said. In response to the Commission's show cause notice, it said, the Delhi government stated that as the operational control and day-to-day supervision, including maintenance rests with the company, it could not own up the negligence on part of the discom. "The discom in response to show cause notice of the Commission raised several preliminary objections including that the NHRC does not have the jurisdiction in the matter which is pending criminal trial. "The Commission set aside these and observed that there is no force in the objections. It said that the criminal proceedings in a court of law shall decide only criminality part of the offender and the matter is not sub-judice on the issue of tortious liability," the rights body said. PTI SJY RAI
