Electricity companies are absolutely liable for electrocution fatalities caused by hazardous activities, regardless of victim negligence.

In brief

The question

1. Whether the deceased died due to the negligence of the appellant or due to his own self-negligence/contributory negligence?

The court held

The High Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the Trial Court's judgment, holding that the appellant is liable under the principle of absolute liability for the electrocution death.

It also directed

The Court directed that the compensation amount deposited with the Trial Court be disbursed to the plaintiffs (claimants) along with accrued interest. All connected civil applications were disposed of.

01Facts

The deceased, Rambhai Ramsibhai, was walking near a road in Sutrapada taluka during light rain on June 6, 2001. Due to a technical fault in a Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) transformer near the road, the deceased was electrocuted and died.

p. 2

The heirs of the deceased filed a suit (Special Civil Suit No. 16 of 2004) alleging absolute negligence by the appellant company (PGVCL) and seeking compensation of Rs. 7,00,000.

p. 2

The appellant contended that the deceased was negligent himself and had illegally tried to join a transformer fuse.

p. 3

The Trial Court partly decreed the suit, awarding Rs. 3,41,400 with 7% interest.

p. 1

PGVCL appealed this judgment under Section 96 of the CPC.

p. 1

02Issues

i.1. Whether the deceased died due to the negligence of the appellant or due to his own self-negligence/contributory negligence?

p. 4, para 7

ii.2. Whether the principles of strict and absolute liability apply to electricity distribution companies in cases of electrocution?

p. 8, para 13

03Law Applied

The Court applied the doctrine of Strict and Absolute Liability, as expanded by the Supreme Court in M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, which established that enterprises engaged in hazardous activities are liable for harm regardless of exceptions under the rule in Rylands v. Fletcher.

p. 5, para 9

The Court also relied on H.S.E.B. v. Ram Nath, affirming that power companies must ensure no injury results from their inherently dangerous activities.

p. 6, para 10

The Court relied on M.P. Electricity Board v. Shailkumar, which held that the "onus is on the licensee" to take precautions to prevent accidents.

p. 7, para 11

Provisions in the judgment · 1 · Linked ones open on LawLens

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 Section 96

04Reasoning

The Court rejected the appellant's argument that the deceased was negligent by allegedly attempting to fix a fuse. It reasoned that since PGVCL is engaged in the hazardous business of supplying electricity, it maintains a primary and absolute duty to prevent the escape of energy and ensure safety measures.

p. 9, para 14

The Court noted that the transformer was not hermetically sealed and was kept open, leading to the accident.

p. 10, para 15

Under the principle of absolute liability, the court found that PGVCL is liable for foreseeable risks inherent in its activity, irrespective of any alleged carelessness by the victim.

p. 9, para 14

The court held that no prudent person would intentionally invite electrocution and that maintaining the transformer was the sole responsibility of the company.

p. 10, para 15

05Holding

The High Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the Trial Court's judgment, holding that the appellant is liable under the principle of absolute liability for the electrocution death.

p. 10, para 16

p. 11, para 17, 18

LawLens.Gujarat High Court

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