The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed Tangedco to pay ₹20 lakh as compensation to the family of a man from Madukkur in Thanjavur district who was electrocuted in 2021. He was unauthorisedly engaged by the Department for rectifying the electrical connection.
Justice K. Kumaresh Babu observed that a foreman working in Tangedco in Madukkur had engaged the man on his own motion for the installation of an electric pole without getting any prior permission from the Department. While erecting the electric pole, the man was electrocuted. The foreman was suspended and imposed with a punishment.
It could be seen that he had been employed by the Department without authorisation. The Department cannot shirk their liability as they are vicariously liable for such appointments being made by its employees, the court observed.
Admittedly, the Board was paying ex-gratia payment to deaths that have been caused due to electrocution under various Board Proceedings. The court observed that it was of the considered view that the man’s family could also be compensated by making ex-gratia payment.
Since, the man had admittedly died during his employment even though unauthorised with the Board, the court observed that it was of the view that the man’s family should be sufficiently compensated. The court quantified the compensation by way of ex-gratia payment as ₹20 lakh payable by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.
The court dismissed the petition filed by R. Prabha, the wife of the deceased, who had challenged the order passed by Thanjavur Collector rejecting her plea seeking the grant of appointment on compassionate grounds.
Published – December 02, 2025 08:14 pm IST
