Chandigarh, April 7 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has declined to interfere with a district court order in which compensation awarded to an electrocution victim from Pathankot was reduced from Rs.20 lakh to Rs.10 lakh.

"It is my view that it is about time that entire blame and burden cannot be cast upon the state authorities; and citizens themselves are also called upon to be alert and vigilant in regard to their duties. It cannot be that we as citizens continue to be foolhardy and then expect the State to bear the burden of our foolishness. In view of the above, no ground is made out for enhancement of compensation," the bench of justice Nidhi Gupta observed while dismissing an appeal from a Punjab resident.

As per plea, the vic...