New Delhi, June 21 -- The Delhi High Court has awarded Rs 30 lakh compensation to the family of a 37-year-old man who died after falling into a pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in 2019, and urged authorities to formulate a policy for prompt compensation in such cases.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav observed that families should not be forced into prolonged litigation for relief when deaths occur due to negligence by public authorities. The court noted that the deceased's widow, mother and three minor children had faced hardship
since the accident.
Rejecting DJB's claim of contributory negligence, the court held the board responsible for failing to ensure adequate barricading,
lighting, supervision and emergency response at the excavation site. It said the victim remained in the ditch throughout the night, reflecting a serious failure of
duty of care.
The court directed DJB to pay Rs 29.5 lakh, after adjusting Rs 50,000 already paid, along with six per cent annual interest from the date of the accident. It also clarified that DJB may recover the amount from the contractor as per contractual provisions.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.