Anuj v. State of Haryana and Others

o o 2023:PHHC:074661o ooooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHoo 245o o o o o o o ooooooooooooooooooooo oooooCWP-6527-2020o o Dateoofodecision:o20.04.2023o o ANUJo o o o o o o o ooooooooo.......Petitioneroo o o o o o VERSUSo o o STATEoOFoHARYANAoANDoOTHERSooo o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o o CORAMo:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o o o o o o *****o o Present:-oo Mr.oJainainderoSaini,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitioner.oo o o o Mr.oVivekoChauhan,oAdvocateoo o o fororespondentoNo.1.oo o o o Mr.oAshishoYadav,oAdvocateoo o o fororespondentsoNo.2otoo4.oo o o o o o *****oo o VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(Oral)oo o o o o o Theopresentopetitionohasobeenofiledoforoissuanceoofodirectionsotoo respondentsotoopayocompensationotootheopetitioner,owhoolostobothohisoarms,o onoaccountoofoelectrocution.oItohasobeenoaverredothatoitowasoonoaccountoofotheo failureo ono parto ofo theo respondent-Transmissiono licenseeo too maintaino theo transmissionolinesoatoaosafeoheightoandoconditionoandoasoaoresultoofotheosameo theosaidoincidentoinoquestionotookoplace.oo

2.o o Counselo foro theo petitionero contendso thato theo petitionero iso ao residento ofo villageo Belarkha,o Tehsilo Narwana,o Districto Jindo ando agedo 24o years.o Heo possesseso theo qualificationo ofo Senioro Secondaryo ando haso successfullyocompletedodiplomaoinoelectricalotradeofromotheoNationaloCouncilo o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -2-o o foroVocationaloTraining.oFatheroofotheopetitioneroisoaosmallofarmerohavingooneo acreoofoland.oTheopetitionerowasothusoworkingoatoanoelectricaloshopoinotheo nameoofoM/soBalajioElectrical,oSector-2,oPanchkulaotooearnohisolivelihoodoando waso earningo Rs.o 25,000/-o too Rs.40,000/-o pero month.o Beingo ao technicallyo qualifiedoperson,oheowasoalsoopursuingoforoaogovernmentojob.oOno03.01.2018,o theopetitionerohadogoneotoohisonativeovillageoBelarkha,owhichoisoatoaodistanceo ofoabouto8oK.M.ofromoNarwana.oHeovisitedoNarwanaotoopurchaseohouseholdo articlesoono04.01.2018.ooHeosatodownoatoHoteloBlueoBirdoalongwithoanooldo friendoforosnacks.oThereowasonooelectricityoonoaccountoofofaultoinotheomaino line.oAocomplaintoinothisoregardohadobeenoregisteredowithotheorespondent-distributionolicensee.ooOneoofotheoofficialovisitedotheospototoocarryooutotheo repair.oWhenotheopetitioneroandohisofriendocameooutofromotheoHoteloatoaroundo 3:30oP.M.,otheyonoticedothatothereowasoaosparkingoinotheoelectricopoleoinofronto ofotheoHoteloandowithinoaosmallospan,othereowasoaoloudosparkoandotheoliveo brokenoelectricityowireofelloonotheopetitionerowhichohitohisostomach,oeyesoando botho handso causingo severeo burnso ono variouso bodyo parts.o o Theo adjacento shopkeepersoandopasserbyogatheredoatotheospotoandobroughtotheopetitionerotoo theoCiviloHospital,oNarwanaofromowhereoheowasoshiftedotooAgrohaoMedicalo College.o Findingonoo improvement,oheo waso admittedo tooJindalo Instituteo ofo MedicaloSciencesoatoHisar.ooTheokidneyoandootherobodyopartsoofotheopetitionero wereobadlyodamagedoandoheoremainedounconsciousoforoabouto10-15odays.o Lifeoofotheopetitionerocouldobeosavedoonlyoafteroamputatingohisoarmsofromo aboveotheoelbow.oTheopetitionerothusosufferedo100%odisabilityoinotheosaido incident.oTheodisabilityocertificateohasobeenoappendedoalongwithotheopresento petition.oItoisoalsooaverredothatotheopetitionerowasounderotreatmentoandoinoano o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -3-o o unconsciouso stateo wheno theo policeo personnelo visitedo theo hospitalo ono 2/3o occasions.oTheostatementoofotheopetitionerothusocouldonotobeorecorded.oTheo fatheroofotheopetitionerogaveoaostatementotootheopoliceoauthoritiesoonotheobasiso ofo whatevero hado beeno toldo too himo ando ino ao distressedo stateo ofo mind.o Signaturesoofohisofatherowereoobtainedoonocertainoblankopapersoonotheopretexto ofocompletionoofoformalities.oHeocontendsothatohisofatherosignedotheosaido documentsoinogoodofaithoandowithoutogoingothroughotheocontentsoofotheosame.o Heofurtherocontendsothatotheopetitionerogotomarriedoinotheoyearo2014oandoiso havingooneominorodaughteroagedoabouto02oyearsoandoaominorosisterowhooiso thstudento ofo Classo 7 oaparto fromo oldo parents.o Ito iso allegedo thato incidentoino questiono tooko placeo ono accounto ofo theo negligenceo ofo theo respondent-distributionolicenseeoinomaintainingotheotransmissionolineoinoaosafeoconditiono andobyoensuringoaoregularomaintenanceothereof.oTheocableohadothusobecomeo weako overo ao passageo ofo timeo ando brokeo downo aso ao resulto ofo wind.o Theo liabilityoofosuchonegligenceohasotoobeofastenedoexclusivelyoonotheorespondent-distributionolicenseeoandothatoexemplaryocompensationooughtotoobeoawardedo sooasotooprotectotheofamilyoofotheopetitionerofromostarvation.oHeocontendsothato despiteotheodemandohavingobeenoraisedobyotheopetitioner,onoocompensationoo wasoawardedotootheopetitioner.oo

3.o o Upono issuanceo ofo notice,o shorto replyo byo wayo ofo affidavito ofo BhajanoSinghosonoofoBachanoSingh,oSuboDivisionaloEngineero(Operational),o DakshinoHaryanaoBijlioVitranoNigamoLimited,oNarwana,oDistrictoJindowaso filed.oWhereoitowasoaverredothatotheoaccidentoinoquestionohadonotooccurredoaso aoresultoofocarelessnessooronegligenceoofotheodistributionolicensee.oItohasobeeno averredo thato theo petitionero hado ino facto visitedo theo Blueo Birdo Hotelo ono o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -4-o o

04.01.2018o ato 3:30o P.M.o too rectifyo theo defectiveo electricityo supply.o Ao referenceoisomadeotootheostatementoofotheopetitionerohimselfoformingotheobasiso oforecordingotheoGeneraloDiaryoNo.o30odatedo06.01.2018owhereinoheoaverredo thatoheohadovisitedotheoHoteloBlueoBirdotoorectifyotheoelectricofault.oHeowaso tryingo too turno offo theo transformer'so switcho wheno heo touchedo theo electrico current.oItoisofurtherostatedothatotheoaccidentoinoquestionotookoplaceowithouto anyofaultoofotheodistributionolicenseeoandothatoheodidonotointendotooproceedo againstoanyoperson.oItoisothusoaverredothatothereowasonoofaultoinotheosystemo maintainedobyotheodistributionolicenseeoandothatothereowasonoooccasionoforo heavyosparkingoonotheopoleosinceotheopowerosupplyoofotheoelectricoline/feedero getsoautomaticallyotrippedooffoinotheoeventoofoanyobreakageoofowireoofoanyo electrico lineo oro minoro sparkingo ono maino line.o Sinceo theo petitionero waso illegallyoworkingoonotheotransformeroinstalledonearobyoHoteloBlueoBirdobyotheo distribution-licenseeo foro rectifyingo theo faulto ofo theo internalo wiringo ofo theo hotel,oheothusowasohimselfoinstrumentaloinocausingotheoaccidentoinoquestion.o HeotriedotooopenotheoG.O.oSwitchoofotheotransformeroillegallyoandowithoutoanyo intimationotootheostaffoofotheoDakshinoHaryanaoBijlioVitranoNigamoLimited,o Narwana-odistributoryolicensee.oHeowasonotoauthorizedotoooperateotheoG.O.o Switchoorotooclimbotheotransformer.oTheoincidentoinoquestionowasodeliberatelyo beingomisinformedotookeepotheosameoasosecretoandotooavoidolegaloactionobeingo takenobyotheodistribution-licenseeoagainstosuchounauthorizedoattemptobyotheo petitionero ando theo ownero ofo theo Blueo Birdo Hotelo too fiddleo witho theo transmissionosystemoofotheodistributionolicensee.ooHeofurtherocontendsothato theopetitionerowasoneveroadmittedotooCiviloHospital,oNarwanaoandonooMLRoofo theo incidento waso alsoo conducted.o Consequently,o theo distributiono licenseeo o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -5-o o cannotobeoheldoresponsibleoforocompensatingotheopetitioner.o

4.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo respectiveopartiesoandohaveogoneothroughotheodocumentsoappendedoalongwitho theopresentopetition.o

5.o o Theo firsto questiono whicho ariseso foro considerationo beforeo thiso Courtooisoasotoowhetherotheodisabilityoinoquestionohadobeenosufferedoasoaoresulto ofoelectrocutionooronot.oEvenothough,otheorespondentsocontendsothatonooMLRo hadobeenoissuedobyotheoCiviloHospital,oNarwana,ohowever,otheorespondentso haveo themselveso placedo ono recordo theo Generalo Diaryo No.o 30o datedo

06.01.2018oonorecord.oTheodateoofoincidentoandotheoeventoofoelectrocutionoono

04.01.2028oalongwithotheoperiodoi.e.oatoaroundo4:00o&o4:30oP.M.oisonotobeingo disputed.oo

6.o o Ito iso thuso noto ino disputeo thato theo incidento ofo 04.01.2018o hado actuallyo takeno placeo ino whicho theo petitionero sustainedo injurieso dueo too electrocution.oTheoodisputeois,ohowever,oonlyowithorespectotootheomanneroino whichotheoincidentoinoquestionotookoplace.ooWhilstotheocaseoofotheopetitioneroiso thatothereowasosparkingoinotheoelectricowiresoandotheotransformerohadonotobeeno maintainedoregularlyo&oproperlyowhereasotheocaseoofotheorespondentoisothato theopetitionerobeingoanoelectricianohadocomeotoocheckotheoelectricityosupplyotoo HoteloBlueoBirdoandohadotriedotoooperateotheoG.O.oSwitchoofotheotransformero inoanounauthorizedomanneroandothatoheotouchedotheoliveoelectricowireoinothato process.oTheopetitionerohavingohimselfodoneoanounauthorizedoactoofoclimbingo overotheotransformeroandotooturnooffotheoswitchodespiteonotobeingoauthorizedo toodooso,o triggeredo theo occurrenceo ofo theo incident.o Heo thuso cannoto claimo compensationobyoallegingothatotheodistributionolicenseeohadobeenonegligent.oo o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -6-o o

7.oo o TheoApexoCourtoinotheomatteroofo"SanjayoGuptaoandootherso versusoStateoofoUttaroPradeshoandoothers"ooreportedo aso (2022)o 7o SCCo 203o hasoobservedoasounder:-o

13.oxxoxxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o

48.oInoD.K.oBasuov.oStateoofoW.B.o(1997)oIoSCCo416oito wasoheldothatotheoclaimoinopublicolawoforocompensationo forounconstitutionalodeprivationoofofundamentalorightotoo lifeo ando liberty,o theo protectiono ofo whicho iso guaranteedo underotheoConstitution,oisoaoclaimobasedoonostrictoliabilityo andoisoinoadditionotootheoclaimoavailableoinoprivateolawoforo damagesoforotortiousoactsoofotheopublicoservants.oPublico lawo proceedingso serveo ao differento purposeo thano theo privateo lawo proceedings.o Awardo ofo compensationo foro establishedo infringemento ofo theo indefeasibleo rightso guaranteedo undero Articleo 21o ofo theo Constitutiono iso ao remedyo availableo ino publico lawo sinceo theo purposeo ofo publicolawoisonotoonlyotoociviliseopublicopowerobutoalsootoo assureotheocitizensothatotheyohaveounderoaolegalosystemo whereinotheirorightsoandointerestsoshallobeoprotectedoando preserved.oGrantoofocompensationoinoproceedingsoundero Articleo32ooroArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoforo theo establishedo violationo ofo theo fundamentalo rightso guaranteedounderoArticleo21,oisoanoexerciseoofotheocourtso undero theo publico lawo jurisdictiono foro penalisingo theo wrongdoeroandofixingotheoliabilityoforotheopublicowrongoono theoStateowhichofailedoinotheodischargeoofoitsopublicodutyo too protecto theo fundamentalo rightso ofo theo citizen.o Ino theo assessmentoofocompensation,otheoemphasisohasotoobeoono theo compensatoryo ando noto ono punitiveo element.o Theo objectiveo iso too applyo balmo too theo woundso ando noto too punisho theo transgressoro oro theo offender,o aso awardingo appropriateo punishmento foro theo offenceo (irrespectiveo ofo compensation)o musto beo lefto too theo criminalo courtso inoVISHAL SHARMA o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -7-o o whichotheooffenderoisoprosecuted,owhichotheoState,oinolaw.o isodutyoboundotoodo.oTheoawardoofocompensationoinotheo publicolawojurisdictionoisoalsoowithoutoprejudiceotooanyo otheroactionolikeocivilosuitoforodamagesowhichoisolawfullyo availableotootheovictimoorotheoheirsoofotheodeceasedovictimo witho respecto too theo sameo mattero foro theo tortiouso acto committedobyotheofunctionariesoofotheoState.oTheoquantumo ofocompensationowill,oofocourse,odependouponotheopeculiaro factso ofo eacho caseo ando noo straitjacketo formulao cano beo evolvedoinothatobehalf.oTheoreliefotooredressotheowrongoforo theoestablishedoinvasionoofotheofundamentalorightsoofotheo citizen.o undero theo publico lawo jurisdictiono is,o thus,o ino additionotootheotraditionaloremediesoandonotoinoderogationo ofothem.oTheoamountoofocompensationoasoawardedobyotheo CourtoandopaidobyotheoStateotooredressotheowrongodone,o mayo ino ao giveno case,o beo adjustedo againsto anyo amounto whicho mayo beo awardedo too theo claimanto byo wayo ofo damagesoinoaocivilosuit.oDroDhawanoalsooreliedouponotheo judgmento reportedo aso M.C.o Mehtao v.o Uniono ofo Indiao reportedoaso(Shriram-oOleumoGas)o(1987)o1oSCCo395,otoo contendo thato too justifyo theo awardo ofo compensation,o theo requirementoisothatoinfringementomustobeogross,opatent,o incontrovertibleo ando exo facieo glaring.o Ito iso alsoo hiso submissiono thato theo remedyo ofo damageso waso ano extrao ordinaryoremedyowhereothereowasogrossoviolationoarisingo outoofodeliberateoactionooromaliciousoactionoresultingoino deprivationoofopersonaloliberty.oItoisosubmittedothatotheo exemplaryodamagesoinopublicolawowereonototoobeoconfusedo witho damageso ino privateo lawo foro whicho privateo lawo remedieso wereo available.o Theo damageso availableo foro constitutionalowrongsowereobyoveryonatureoexemplaryoando haveo ao limitedo meaningo ando wereo noto intendedo too beo compensatoryoinonature.oInosupportoofohisocontentions,oheo refersotootheojudgmentsoofotheoSupremeoCourtoinoNilabatioVISHAL SHARMA o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -8-o o Beherao v.o Stateo ofo Orissao ando Indiano Councilo foro Enviro-Legalo Actiono v.o Uniono ofo India?"o reportedo aso

(1993)o 2o SCCo 746:o 1993o SCCo (Cri)o 527o Ino Nilabatio Beherao v.o Stateo ofo Orissao (supra),o ito waso heldo byo theo SupremeoCourtothatoitowould,ohowever,obeoappropriateotoo spellooutoclearlyotheoprincipleoonowhichotheoliabilityoofotheo Stateoarisesoinosuchocasesoforopaymentoofocompensationo andotheodistinctionobetweenothisoliabilityoandotheoliabilityo inoprivateolawoforopaymentoofocompensationoinoanoactiono onotort.oItomayobeomentionedostraightwayothatoawardoofo compensationo ino ao proceedingo undero Articleo 32o byo theo SupremeoCourtoorobyotheoHighoCourtounderoArticleo226oofo theo Constitutiono iso ao remedyo availableo ino publico law,o basedoonostrictoliabilityoforocontraventionoofofundamentalo rightsotoowhichotheoprincipleoofosovereignoimmunityodoeso notoapply,oevenothoughoitomayobeoavailableoasoaodefenceoino privateo lawo ino ano actiono basedo ono tort.o Thiso iso ao distinctionobetweenotheotwooremediesotoobeoborneoinomindo whichoalsooindicatesotheobasisoonowhichocompensationoiso awardedoinosuchoproceedings.oWeoshallonoworeferotootheo earliero decisionso ofo thiso courto aso wello aso someo othero decisionsobeforeofurtherodiscussionoofothisoprinciple.oTheo compensationoisoinotheonatureoofo"exemplaryodamages"o awardedo againsto theo wrongdoero foro theo breacho too itso publicolawodutyoandoisoindependentoofotheorightsoavailableo tootheoaggrievedopartyotooclaimocompensationounderotheo privateo lawo ino ano actiono basedoonotort,o throughoao suito institutedo ino ao courto ofo competento jurisdictiono or/ando prosecuteotheooffenderounderotheopenalolaw.o

49.oInoIndianoCounciloforoEnviro-LegaloActionov.oUniono ofo India,o reportedo aso (1996)o 3o SCCo 212o theo Supremeo CourtohadoheldothatoevenoifoitoisoassumedothatotheoCourto cannoto awardo damageso againsto theo respondentso ino proceedingsounderoArticleo32oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoVISHAL SHARMA o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -9-o o thatowouldonotomeanothatotheoCourtocouldonotodirectotheo CentraloGovernmentotoodetermineoandorecoverotheocostoofo remedialomeasuresofromotheorespondents.oItowasoheldothato Sectiono 3o ofo theo Environmento (Protection)o Act,o 1986o expresslyo empoweredo theo Centralo Governmento too madeo allosuchomeasuresoasoitodeemsonecessaryooroexpedientoforo theopurposeoofoprotectingoandoimprovingotheoqualityoofo environment.o Theo righto too claimo damageso waso lefto byo institutionoofosuitsoinoappropriateocivilocourtsoandoitowaso heldothatoifosuchosuitsowereofiledoinoformaopauperis,otheo StateoofoRajasthanoshallonotoopposeothoseoapplicationsoforo leaveotoosueoinoformaopauperis.o Xxxxooxxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxo

14.oAnoappealoagainstotheosaidoorderowasopartlyoallowedo inoMCDov.oUphaaroTragedyoVictimsoAssn.oreportedoaso

(2011)o14oSCCo481owhereinothisoCourtoheldoasounder:o (SCCopp.o528-31o&o36.oparaso60,o64,o67o&o76)o "60.oTheocontentionoofotheolicenseeoisowhatocouldobeo awardedoasoaopublicolaworemedyoisoonlyoaonominalo interimo oro palliativeo compensationo ando ifo anyo claimantso (legalo heirso ofo theo deceasedo oro anyo injured)o wantedo ao highero compensation,o theyo shouldo fileo ao suito foro recoveryo thereof.o Ito waso contendedothatowhatowasoawardedowasoanointerimo oropalliativeocompensation,otheoHighoCourtocouldo notohaveoassumedotheomonthlyoincomeoofoeachoadulto whoodiedoasobeingonotolessothanoRso15,000oandotheno determiningo theo compensationo byo applyingo theo multiplieroofo15owasoimproper.oThisogivesoriseotoo theo followingo question:o whethero theo incomeo ando multipliero methodo adoptedo too finallyo determineo compensationo cano beo arrivedo ato whileo awardingo tentativeo oro palliativeo compensationo byo wayo ofo ao publicolaworemedyounderoArticleo226ooro32oofotheoVISHAL SHARMA o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -10-o o Constitution?o

64.o Therefore,o whato cano beo awardedo aso compensationobyowayoofopublicolaworemedyoneedo noto onlyo beo ao nominalo palliativeo amount,o buto somethingo more.o Ito cano beo byo wayo ofo makingo monetaryoamountsoforotheowrongodoneoorobyowayoofo exemplaryo damages,o exclusiveo ofo anyo amounto recoverableo ino ao civilo actiono basedo ono tortiouso liability..o o

67.o Insofaro aso deatho caseso areo concernedo theo principleo ofo determiningo compensationo iso streamlinedobyoseveralodecisionsoofothisoCourt.o(Seeo foro exampleo Sarlao Vermao v.o DTCo reportedo aso

(2009)o6oSCCo121oo)oIfothreeofactorsoareoavailableo theocompensationocanobeodetermined.oTheofirstoiso theoageoofotheodeceased,otheosecondoisotheoincomeoofo theodeceasedoandotheothirdoisonumberoofodependantso (too determineo theo percentageo ofo deductiono foro personalo expenses).o Foro convenienceo theo thirdo factorocanoalsoobeoexcludedobyoadoptingoaostandardo deductionoofoone-thirdotowardsopersonaloexpenses.o Thereforeo justo twoo factorso areo requiredo too beo ascertainedo too determineotheo compensationoino59o individualocases.oFirstoisotheoannualoincomeoofotheo deceased,otwo-othirdsoofowhichobecomesotheoannualo losso ofo dependency;o ando second,o theo ageo ofo theo deceasedowhichowillofurnishotheomultiplieroinotermso ofo Sarlao Verma.o Theo annualo losso ofo dependencyo multipliedo byo theo multipliero willo giveo theo compensation.o Aso thiso iso ao comparativelyo simpleo exercise,o weo directo theo Registraro Generalo ofo theo DelhioHighoCourtotooreceiveoapplicationsoinoregardo toodeathocases,ofromotheoclaimantso(legaloheirsoofo o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -11-o o theodeceased)owhoowantoaocompensationoinoexcesso ofowhatohasobeenoawarded,othatois,oRso10olakhs/Rso

7.5olakhs.oSuchoapplicationsoshouldobeofiledowithino threeomonthsofromotoday.oHeoshalloholdoaosummaryo inquiryo ando determineo theo compensation.o Anyo amounto awardedo ino excesso ofo whato iso herebyo awardedo aso compensationo shallo beo borneo exclusivelyobyotheotheatreoowner.oTooexpediteotheo processotheoclaimantsoconcernedoandotheolicenseeo withotheirorespectiveocounseloshalloappearobeforeo theo Registraro withouto furthero notice.o Foro thiso purposeotheoclaimantsoandotheotheatreoowneromayo appearobeforeotheoRegistraroono10-1-2012oandotakeo furthero orderso ino theo matter.o Theo hearingo ando determinationoofocompensationomayobeoassignedotoo anyoRegistraroorootheroSenioroJudgeonominatedobyo theo learnedo Chiefo Justice/Actingo Chiefo Justiceo ofo theoDelhioHighoCourt.o Xxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo

16.oWeofindotheoprecedentsoforopaymentoofocompensationo inoaowritopetitionounderoArticleo32oofotheConstitutionofallo underothreeocategoriesoofocases.oFirstocategoryoisowhereo theoactsoofocommissionooroomissionoareoattributedotootheo StateooroitsoofficersosuchoasoNilabatioBeherao(supra),oSubeo Singho(2006)o3SCCo178o,oRuduloSahov.oStateoofoBiharo&o Anr.,o(1983)o4oSCCo141o,oBhimoSinghoversusoStateoofoJ.K,o reportedoaso(1985)o4oSCCo677,oMLAov.oStateoofoJo&oKo&o Ors.,o(1985)o4oSCCo677oandoD.K.oBasuov.oStateoofoW.B.,o

(1997)o1oSCCo416o.o

17.oTheosecondocategoryoofocasesoisowhereocompensationo haso beeno awardedo againsto ao corporateo entityo whicho iso engagedoinoanoactivityohavingotheopotentialotooaffectotheo lifeoandohealthoofopeopleosuchoasoM.C.oMehtaowhereinotheo Courtoheldoasounder:oVISHAL SHARMA o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -12-o o "31.o.......................oWeowouldothereforeoholdothato whereoanoenterpriseoisoengagedoinoaohazardousooro inherentlyodangerousoactivityoandoharmoresultsotoo anyoneoonoaccountoofoanoaccidentoinotheooperationo ofosuchohazardousooroinherentlyodangerousoactivityo resulting,oforoexample,oinoescapeoofotoxicogasotheo enterpriseo iso strictlyo ando absolutelyo liableo too compensateo allo thoseo whoo areo affectedo byo theo accidentoandosucholiabilityoisonotosubjectotooanyoofo theoexceptionsowhichooperateovis-a-visotheotortiouso principleo ofo stricto liabilityo undero theo ruleo inoooooooooooooooo Rylandsov.oFletcherk.kk o

18.oTheothirdocategoryocomprisesoofotheocasesowhereotheo liabilityo foro paymento ofo compensationo haso beeno apportionedobetweenotheoStateoandotheoOrganizersoofotheo function.oInoDabwalioFireoTragedyoVictimsoAssociationo v.o Uniono ofo Indiao &o Ors.,o 2009o SCCo OnLineo P&Ho 10273owhereinoinoaofireoaccident,o446opersonsodiedoando manyoothersoreceivedoburnoinjuries.oTheoHighoCourtoinoao writopetitionounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoheldo thato theo schoolo whicho organizedo theo functiono ando respondento No.o 8,o theo ownero ofo theo venue,o wouldo beo jointlyo ando severallyo liableo too payo 55%o ofo theo compensation,oremainingoliabilityowasotoobeoborneooutobyo theoState.o Xxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo

22.o Keepingo ino viewo theo judgmentso referredo too byo thiso Courto ino itso ordero datedo 31-7-2014',o aso alsoo theo judgmentsoreferredotooabove,oweofindothatoinfringementoofo Articleo21omayobeoanoindividualocaseosuchoasobyotheoStateo oroitsofunctionaries;oorobyotheoOrganisersoandotheoState;o orobyotheoOrganisersothemselvesohaveobeenosubject-mattero ofoconsiderationobeforeothisoCourtoinoaowritopetitionoundero Articleo32oorobeforeotheoHighoCourtounderoArticleo226o sucho aso Uphaaro Tragedyo oro Dabwalio Fireo Tragedy.o SimilaroargumentsohaveonotofoundofavourowithotheoDelhio HighoCourtoandoinoappealobyothisoCourt.oTheoviewotakeno o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -13-o o thereino doeso noto warranto anyo interferenceo ando weo respectfullyoendorseotheosame.o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo

54.o Ino Shyamo Sundero &o Ors.o v.o Stateo ofo Rajasthan,o

(1974)o1oSCCo690o,othisoCourtoobservedothatotheomaximo resoipsaoloquitoroisoresortedotoowhenoanoaccidentoisoshowno too haveo occurredo ando theo causeo ofo theo accidento iso primarilyo withino theo knowledgeo ofo theo defendant.o Theo mereofactothatotheocauseoofotheoaccidentoisounknownodoeso notopreventotheoplaintiffofromorecoveringotheodamages,oifo propero inferenceo too beo drawno fromo theo circumstanceso whichoareoknownoisothatoitowasocausedobyotheonegligenceo ofotheodefendant.oItowasoobservedoasothus:o "9.oTheomainopointoforoconsiderationoinothisoappealo is,o whethero theo facto thato theo trucko caughto fireo iso evidenceoofonegligenceoonotheopartoofotheodriveroino theocourseoofohisoemployment.oTheomaximoresoipsao loquituroisoresortedotoowhenoanoaccidentoisoshowno toohaveooccurredoandotheocauseoofotheoaccidentoiso primarilyo withino theo knowledgeo ofo theo defendant.o Theo mereo facto thato theo causeo ofo theo accidento iso unknowno doeso noto prevento theo plaintiffo fromo recoveringotheodamages,oifotheoproperoinferenceotoo beodrawnofromotheocircumstancesowhichoareoknowno iso thato ito waso causedo byo theo negligenceo ofo theo defendant.oTheofactoofotheoaccidentomay,osometimes,o constituteo evidenceo ofo negligenceo ando theno theo maximoresoipsaoloquituroapplies.o o o o 10.oTheomaximoisostatedoinoitsoclassicoformobyoErle,o o o o C.J.:o[Scottov.oLondono&oSt.oKatherineoDocks,oo o o o (1865)o3oH&Co596,o601o]o o o "...owhereotheothingoisoshownotoobeounderotheo managemento ofo theo defendanto oro hiso servants,o ando theo accidentoisosuchoasoinotheoordinaryocourseoofothingsodoesoVISHAL SHARMA o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -14-o o notohappenoifothoseowhoohaveotheomanagementouseopropero care,o itoaffordsoreasonableo evidence,o inotheoabsenceoofo explanationo byo theo defendants,o thato theo accidento aroseo fromowantoofocare."o Theomaximodoesonotoembodyoanyoruleoofosubstantiveolawo noroaoruleoofoevidence.oItoisoperhapsonotoaoruleoofoanyokindo butosimplyotheocaptionotooanoargumentoonotheoevidence.o LordoShaworemarkedothatoifotheophraseohadonotobeenoino Latin,onobodyowouldohaveocalledoitoaoprincipleo[Ballardov.o Northo Britisho Railwayo Co.,o 1923o SCo (HL)o 43o ].o Theo maximo iso onlyo ao conveniento labelo too applyo too ao seto ofo circumstancesoinowhichotheoplaintiffoprovesoaocaseosooaso toocalloforoaorebuttalofromotheodefendant,owithoutohavingo tooallegeoandoproveoanyospecificoactooroomissionoonotheo partoofotheodefendant.oTheoprincipalofunctionoofotheomaximo isotoopreventoinjusticeo whichowouldoresulto ifo aoplaintiffo wereoinvariablyocompelledotooproveotheopreciseocauseoofo theo accidento ando theo defendanto responsibleo foro ito eveno whenotheofactsobearingoonotheseomattersoareoatotheooutseto unknownotoohimoandooftenowithinotheoknowledgeoofotheo defendant.o Buto thougho theo parties'o relativeo accesso too evidenceo iso ano influentialo factor,o ito iso noto controlling.o Thus,otheofactothatotheodefendantoisoasomuchoatoaolossotoo explaino theo accidento oro himselfo diedo ino it,o doeso noto precludeoanoadverseoinferenceoagainstohim,oifotheooddso otherwiseopointotoohisonegligenceo(seeoJohnoG.oFleming,o TheoLawoofoTorts,o4thoEdn.,op.o264).oTheomereohappeningo ofo theo accidento mayo beo moreo consistento witho theo negligenceoonotheopartoofotheodefendantothanowithoothero causes.o Theo maximo iso basedo aso commonsenseo ando itso purposeo iso too doo justiceo wheno theo factso bearingo ono causationoandoonotheocareoexercisedobyodefendantoareoato theooutsetounknownotootheoplaintiffoandoareoorooughtotoobeo o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -15-o o withinotheoknowledgeoofotheodefendanto(seeoBarkwayov.oS.o WalesoTransoo[(1950)o1oAlloERo392,o399]o).o o 11.o Theo plaintiffo merelyo proveso ao result,o noto anyo particularo acto oro omissiono producingo theo result.o Ifo theo result,oinotheocircumstancesoinowhichoheoprovesoit,omakeso ito moreo probableo thano noto thato ito waso causedo byo theo negligenceo ofo theo defendants,o theo doctrineo ofo reso ipsao loquituroisosaidotooapply,oandotheoplaintiffowillobeoentitledo toosucceedounlessotheodefendantobyoevidenceorebutsothato probability."o

55.o Further,o thiso Courto ino Pushpao baio Purshottamo Udeshiov.oRanjitoGinningo&oPressingoCo.oPvt.oLtd.o&o Anr.,o(1977)o2oSCCo745oheldothatowhereotheoplaintiffocano proveotheoaccidentobutocannotoproveohowoitohappenedotoo establishonegligenceoonotheopartoofotheodefendant,osucho hardshipo iso soughto too beo avoidedo byo applyingo theo principleooforesoipsaoloquitor.oItowasoobservedothus:o "6.oTheonormaloruleoisothatoitoisoforotheoplaintiffotooproveo negligenceobutoasoinosomeocasesoconsiderableohardshipoiso causedotootheoplaintiffoasotheotrueocauseoofotheoaccidentoiso notoknownotoohimobutoisosolelyowithinotheoknowledgeoofotheo defendanto whoo causedo it,o theo plaintiffo cano proveo theo accidentobutocannotoproveohowoitohappenedotooestablisho negligenceoonotheopartoofotheodefendant.oThisohardshipoiso soughtotoobeoavoidedobyoapplyingotheoprincipleooforesoipsao loquitur.o Theo generalo purporto ofo theo wordso reso ipsao loquituroisothatotheoaccidento"speaksoforoitself'oorotellsoitso ownostory.oThereoareocasesoinowhichotheoaccidentospeakso foroitselfosoothatoitoisosufficientoforotheoplaintiffotooproveo theo accidento ando nothingo more.o Ito willo theno beo foro theo defendantotooestablishothatotheoaccidentohappenedodueotoo someootherocauseothanohisoownonegligence.oSalmondoono theoLawoofoTortso(15thoEdn.)oatop.o306ostates:o o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -16-o o o o"Theomaximoresoipsaoloquituroappliesowheneveroito iso soo improbableo thato sucho ano accidento wouldo haveo happenedowithoutotheonegligenceoofotheodefendantothatoao reasonableojuryocouldofindowithoutofurtheroevidenceothatoito wasosoocaused".o o oInoHalsbury'soLawsoofoEngland,o3rdoEdn.,oVol.o28,o atop.o77,otheopositionoisostatedothus:o"Anoexceptionotootheo generalo ruleo thato theo burdeno ofo proofo ofo theo allegedo negligenceoisoinotheofirstoinstanceoonotheoplaintiffooccurso whereverotheofactsoalreadyoestablishedoareosuchothatotheo properoandonaturaloinferenceoarisingofromothemoisothatotheo injuryo complainedo ofo waso causedo byo theo defendant'so negligence,o oro whereo theo evento chargedo a;o negligenceo `tellso ito owno story'o ofo negligenceo ono theo parto ofo theo defendant,o theo storyo soo toldo beingo clearo ando unambiguous".oWhereotheomaximoisoappliedotheoburdenoiso onotheodefendantotooshowoeitherothatoinofactoheowasonoto negligentoorothatotheoaccidentomightomoreoprobablyohaveo happenedoinoaomannerowhichodidonotoconnoteonegligenceo onohisopart."o

8.o o ItoisothusoevidentofromoaoperusaloofotheoaboveothatoaowritoCourto mayoawardocompensationotooaopersonoaggrievedoandoagainstotheowrongdoero onoaccountoofobreachoofoitsopublicodutyoapartofromotheoindependentorightoofo theoaggrievedopartyotooclaimocompensationounderotheoprivateolawoinoanoactiono basedoonotortoinoaosuitoinstitutedobeforeoaoCourtoofocompetentojurisdiction.o Theoawardoofocompensationoinotheopublicolawojurisdictionoisothusowithouto prejudiceotooanyootheroactionolikeosuitoforodamagesowhichomayobeolawfullyo availableotootheovictimoorotheoheirsoofotheodeceasedoquaotheosameomatter.oTheo quantumoofocompensationohoweverowouldodependouponotheopeculiarofactsoofo eachocaseoandonoostraightojacketoformulaocanobeoevolvedoinothatobehalf.oo o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -17-o o

9.o o ThisoCourt,ohowever,oinotheomatteroofo"JagiroversusoStateoofo Haryana"obearingoCWP-2648oofo2014odecidedoono19.10.2015oheldothatowrito Courtohasotheopoweroandodiscretionotooassessoaofairoandoproperocompensationo eveno ino theo absenceo ofo propero ando impeccableo pleadingso oro evidence.o Further,othisoCourtoinotheomatteroofo"PurshotamoParkashoversusoDakshino HaryanaoBijlioVitranoNigamoLtd."obearingoCWP-15780oofo2016odecidedoonoo

03.09.2019oheldothatoevenothoughotheoprinciplesolaidodownoinoclaimocaseso undero theo Motoro Vehicleso Acto areo noto strictlyo too beo appliedo too computeo quantumoofocompensationoinoelectrocutionocases,ohowever,otheosameomayobeo guidingofactoroforoawardingocompensation.oo

10.o o AfteronoticingotheoaboveofactsoIohaveocomeotooaoconclusionothatoao writoCourtomay,oinoaogivenocircumstance,oawardocompensationotooaopersono aggrievedo whereo ao persono haso sufferedo injurieso aso ao resulto ofo ao dangeroo broughto aroundo byo theo respondento (theo distributiono licenseeo beingo theo respondentoinotheopresento case).o Theoelementoofocompensationo isograntedo againstotheobreachoofopublicodutyoandoisowithoutoprejudiceotootheorightsoofoao personoaggrievedotooseekohisoremediesoinoaoprivateolawoactionoagainstotheo violatoro beforeo ao Courto ofo competento jurisdiction.o Eveno though,o theo principlesoofoMotoroVehiclesoActoareonotoapplicableoperose,ohowever,oitomayo beoregardedoasotheoguidingoprinciplesobyotheoCourtoofocompetentojurisdictiono tooascertainotheocompensationopayableotooaopersonoaggrieved.o

11.o o Theofactsoofotheopresentocaseoshowothatothereoareotwoodifferentoo versionsoquaotheosameoincident.oItoisohoweveronotoinodisputeothatotheo100%o permanento disabilityo waso sufferedo byo theo petitionero aso ao resulto ofo theo o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -18-o o

12.o o Aodisputedoquestionoofofactowouldothusoemergedoasotoowhethero theoinjuryoinoquestionowasosustainedopurelyoasoaoresultoofoownodefaultoofotheo petitioneroorotheorespondent-distributionolicenseeomayoalsoobeoatosomeofault.o Eveno ino ano eventualityo ofo contributoryo negligence,o theo petitionero wouldo nonethelessobeoentitledotoosomeocompensation.oo

13.o o Theopetitioneroisoaoyoungopersonoofoabouto24oyearsohavingoao minorodaughter,ominorosister,owifeoandoparentsotoosupport.oHeoisoaoqualifiedo electricianoandothatoamputationoofohisoarmsowouldodriveohimotoopecuniaryo hardship.o Ato theo sameo time,o theo questiono ofo negligence/contributoryo negligence,otheocomputationoofoincome,otheomultiplyingofactoroandoalsootheo quantumo ofo compensationo areo requiredo too beo determinedo byo leadingo ano affirmativeoevidence.oo

14.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerocontendsothatohugeoamountoofo aboutoRs.o5olakhsowasospentoonotheotreatmentoofotheopetitioner,ohowever,o thereoisonoomedicalorecordotoosubstantiateotheosameoatothisostage.oo

15.o o Itoisoaocaseoofocrossoversionoquaotheoincidentoinoquestion.oWhileo theopetitioneroreliesouponotheopleadingomadeoinotheoinstantowritopetition,otheo respondent-distributionolicenseeoplacesorelianceoonotheostatementorecordedoino theoGeneraloDiaryoofotheoPolice.oo

16.o o Withoutogoingointootheomeritsoofotheocontroversyoinvolvedoinotheo presentocaseoororecordingoanyodefiniteofindingoasotoowhichopartyowasoatolapseo orowhetheroitowasoaocaseoofocontributoryonegligence,olestoitomayoprejudiceotheo caseoofotheorespectiveoparty,otheopresentocaseoisobeingodisposedoofoasoitoraisesoo disputedoquestionsoofofactsowhichocannotobeoascertainedoinowritojurisdiction.o Suchoissuesocanoonlyobeodeterminedoafteroconsiderationoofoevidence.o o CWP-6527-2020o o o o o o o o o -19-o o

17.o o However,o ino ordero too meeto theo financialo hardshipo ofo theo petitioner,o ano interimo compensationo ofo Rs.o 2o lakhso iso awardedo too theo petitioner.o Heo may,o ifo soo advised,o approacho theo Courto ofo competento jurisdictionoforoseekingocompensationoasoperolaw.oTheoCourtoofocompetento jurisdictionomayothereuponodetermineotheoelementoofocompensationoonotheo basiso ofo evidenceo ledo byo theo respectiveo partieso ando beo guidedo byo sucho principlesoincludingotheoguidelines/parametersoprescribedounderotheoMotorso VehicleoAct,o1988oasoitomayodeemofitoandoproper.oTheointerimocompensationo shallobeodisbursedotootheopetitionerowithinoaoperiodoofotwoomonthsofromotheo dateooforeceiptoofocertifiedocopyoofothisoOrder.oNeedlessotoomentionothatotheo periododuringowhichotheopresentopetitionoremainopendingobeforeothisoCourto andotillosuchotimeowhenotheocertifiedocopyoofotheoorderoisoreceivedobyotheo partyoshallobeoexcludedofromocomputingotheolimitationoforoinstitutionoofosucho proceedings.oo o o Theo presento petitiono iso thuso partlyo allowedo witho libertieso aso aforesaid.ooo o o o o o o o o oo o o o o o ooo(VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo APRILo20,o2023o o o o o ooo ooJUDGEo VishaloSharmao o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo o o o WhetheroReportableo o :o Yes/Noo