NHRC asks UP electricity board to pay Rs two lakh to worker

NHRC asks UP electricity board to pay Rs two lakh to worker
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, APRIL 12: The National Human Rights Commission has directed the Uttar Pradesh electricity board to pay an interim relief of Rs two lakh to the legal heir of a youth who died after falling from an electric pole while doing repair work.

NHRC sources said that the Commission gave this direction after taking cognizance of a complaint received from one Buta Singh that his son Mohar Singh, serving in Noida wing of the UP electricity board, died after falling from an electric pole. Buta Singh suspected that his son's death was caused by poisoning or some foul play.

The NHRC issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary, who sent his report on the incident. On the basis of the report, it was evident that Mohar Singh, who was engaged by the UP electricity board, was on duty on the day of his death. He was doing repair work on an electric pole when he received an electric shock and died.

Besides, it was also established from the report that the UP electricity board avails the services of private individuals in getting the electric faults repaired, which was wholly against the rules and by-laws of of the Electricity Department, the Commission observed.

"It is wholly unwarranted that private individuals are being engaged by the Electricity Department to get their work done, instead of employing their own regular workers for the purpose. The Commission depreciates this practice,'' the NHRC observed.

As a young man had lost his life under such circumstances, the NHRC ordered that the UP electricity board pay Rs two lakh to the legal heirs of the deceased and send a compliance report to the Commission within four weeks, sources added.