The Gujarat High Court has upheld a trial court's decision to grant ₹6.25 lakh compensation to the mother of an 18-year-old boy who died in 2008 after being electrocuted by a low-hanging live wire.

The boy had gone to cut grass for cattle under some trees when a live electric wire, tangled in the branches, came in contact with him. He died on the spot.

The Court found the electricity board, Paschim Gujarat Vij Co. Ltd., responsible for the incident and dismissed the board’s appeal against the compensation order.

Justice Hemant Prachchhak said it was the duty of the electricity board to ensure that power lines do not touch trees. The Court noted that the wires were hanging dangerously low and touching the trees, which led to the accident.

“In this case, due to negligence by the board, the boy died an untimely death. The trial court’s order is correct, and there is no need to interfere,” the judge said.

The company had argued that the boy should have been more careful around live wires and that there was no solid proof of his age or income. They also said the compensation amount was too high.

However, the Court relied on documents like the post-mortem report and witness statements, which confirmed the boy’s age and that he was earning ₹200 per day by selling milk.

The Court ordered that the compensation money, along with interest, be released to the boy’s mother (the sole surviving parent) within eight weeks.

Case Title: Paschim Gujarat Vij Co. Ltd. vs Mithabhai Nageshi Maheswari & Anr
Case No.: First Appeal No. 470 of 2012