Compensation Denied Is Justice Denied: NHRC Seeks Accountability in Electrocution Death Case

The right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India does not end with death—it extends to dignity, accountability, and compensation for the family left behind. A recent communication from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) once again exposes how systemic negligence and official apathy continue to deny justice to victims of electrocution deaths in India.

The Incident: A Preventable Death

On 21–22 February 2025, a young man, Guddu Sonkar (30), belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, lost his life after coming into contact with a high-voltage electric wire that had fallen near the bypass overbridge at Bankuthpur village, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.

The wire reportedly remained live and unattended, despite posing a clear and visible danger to the public. Such incidents are not accidents—they are the result of gross negligence, poor maintenance, and failure of public authorities to ensure safety.

NHRC Intervention and Demand for Action

Acting on a complaint filed on 28 February 2025, the NHRC took cognizance of the matter and directed the Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR).

Despite repeated directions and reminders issued on 14 July 2025 and 27 August 2025, no report was submitted by UPPCL.

Now, in its communication dated 22 December 2025, the NHRC has issued a final reminder, warning that failure to respond within two weeks may compel the Commission to invoke Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, which empowers the NHRC to summon officials and call for records.

The Core Issue: Compensation to the Victim’s Family

At the heart of this case lies a crucial question:

Why has compensation not yet been paid to the victim’s family?

Under established legal and human rights principles:

• Death caused by electrocution due to negligent maintenance of power lines attracts strict liability

• Victims’ families are entitled to monetary compensation from the electricity department

• Compensation is not charity—it is a constitutional and statutory obligation

The NHRC has consistently held that public authorities must compensate families of victims in cases involving:

• Hazardous public infrastructure

• Failure of duty of care

• Violation of safety norms

The delay in compensation compounds the suffering of the victim’s family, many of whom belong to economically and socially marginalized communities.

Accountability Must Follow Compensation

Compensation alone is not enough. The NHRC has also emphasized:

• Departmental action against negligent officials

• Fixing responsibility for failure to repair or secure live wires

• Preventive measures to avoid future electrocution deaths

When authorities ignore NHRC directions, they undermine not only the victim’s rights but also the rule of law.

A Broader Human Rights Concern

Electrocution deaths continue to claim lives across India—often of daily wage workers, pedestrians, and children. Each such death reflects:

• Institutional indifference

• Weak enforcement of safety standards

• A pattern of denial of timely compensation

The Mirzapur case is not an isolated incident—it is part of a national crisis demanding urgent reform.

 Justice Delayed Cannot Be Normalized

The NHRC’s final reminder is a clear message: human life cannot be treated as expendable. Authorities must:

1. Submit a truthful Action Taken Report

2. Provide adequate compensation to the victim’s family

3. Ensure accountability and preventive action

Justice begins with acknowledgment—and compensation is the first step toward restoring dignity to those left behind.

From: <nhrc.india@nic.in>
Date: Mon, Dec 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Subject: Additional Information Called for(AIC) -2168/24/55/2025
To: <cmd@uppcl.org>, <dgmir2020uppcl@gmail.com>, <pvchr.adv@gmail.com>

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

MANAV ADHIKAR BHAWAN BLOCK-C, GPO COMPLEX, INA, NEW DELHI- 110023

Fax No.: 011-24651332    Website: www.nhrc.nic.in

(Law Division)

Case No.- 2168/24/55/2025

---

Date : 22/12/2025

To,

THE CHAIRMAN UTTAR PRADESH POWER CORPORATION LIMITED, SHAKTI BHAWAN, ASHOK MARG LUCKNOW UTTAR PRADESH Email- cmd@uppcl.org,dgmir2020uppcl@gmail.com

Sub : Complaint/ Intimation from

DR LENIN RAGHUVANSHI SA 4/2 A DAULATPUR, PANDEYPUR VARANASI, DAULATPUR, VARANASI VARANASI , UTTAR PRADESH 221002 Email- pvchr.adv@gmail.com , Mob No- 9935599331

Subject: Additional Information Called for(AIC) -2168/24/55/2025.

Sir/ Madam,

I am directed to say that the matter was considered by the Commission on 22/12/2025 and the Commission has directed as follows.:

The Commission received a complaint on 28.02.2025 about hazardous employment in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. Upon pursuing the same, the Commission directed as follows: A contract worker, Kaushal Kishore, employed by the electricity company in Jabalpur district, died on 24-02-2025 while fixing a fault on a transformer pole. His body hung for 12 hours, showing police negligence. The incident occurred due to the lack of safety equipment and the violation of NHRC guidelines. The complainant requests a high-level investigation, action against negligent officials, and compensation for the deceased's family under the Workmen's Compensation Act. The Commission received a complaint on 28.02.2025 about death due to electrocution in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. Upon pursuing the same the Commission directed as follows: The complainant alleged that the victim died on 21-2-2025 after being struck by a high-voltage electric wire that fell near the bypass over bridge in Bankuthpur village and has requested for investigation of the incident and has requested for suitable compensation. The Commission vide proceedings dated 14/07/2025, followed by reminder dated 27/08/2025 directed to transmit a copy of the complaint to the  Chairman, UPCCL, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, through online mode, to ensure the needful action and submit the action taken report to the Commission within prescribed time frame. However, no report has yet been received. Let final reminder be issued to the Chairman, UPCCL, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, through online mode, to submit the requisite action taken report to the Commission within two weeks failing which the Commission shall be constrained to invoke Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

2.     It is therefore, requested that the additional/ complete report as directed by the Commission in the matter be sent latest by 15/01/2026, for futher consideration by the Commission.

3.     Any communication by public authorities in this matter may please be sent to the Commission through the HRCNet Portal (https://hrcnet.nic.in) by using id and password already provided to the public authorities (click Authority Login). Any Audio/ Video CDs/ pen drives etc. may be sent through Speed Post/ per bearer. The reports/ responses sent through email may not be entertained

Your’s faithfully Sd/- Atul Kumar ASSISTANT REGISTRAR (LAW) M-5 Section Ph. No. 011-24663287