##PAGE1##

W.P.(MD).No.35071 of 2025

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 30.01.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR

W.P(MD)No.35071 of 2025

S.Anitha ... Petitioner

Vs.

1. The Chairman cum Managing Director

Tamil Nadu Electricity Board,

TNEB/TANGEDCO,

No.144, Anna Salai,

Chennai-600 002.

2. The Superintending Engineer,

TNEB/TANGEDCO,

RTO Office Opposite,

Ramanathapuram,

Ramanathapuram District.

3.The Assistant Engineer,

TNEB/TANGEDCO

Distribution, Thiruvadanai,

Ramanathapuram District.

4. The Executive Engineer,

TNEB/TANGEDCO

RTO Office Opposite,

Ramanathapuram,

Ramanathapuram District. ... Respondents

1/8

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 04/02/2026 04:24:27 pm )

W.P.(MD).No.35071 of 2025

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India,

praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondents to

pay a compensation of Rs.10 Lakhs for the death of the petitioner's Sister-in-

law (late) Miss.M.Mahadevi aged 43 years due to electrocution in light of the

board proceedings in proceedings No.11 dated 21.12.2024 by considering the

petitioner's representation dated 08.11.2025.

For Petitioner : Mr.I.Pinaygash

For Respondents : Mr.S.Deenadhayalan

Standing Counsel

O R D E R

The present Writ Petition has been filed seeking a Mandamus, as

against the respondents to pay a compensation of Rs.10 Lakhs for the death of

the petitioner's Sister-in-law, due to electrocution in the light of the Board

Proceedings No.11, dated 21.12.2024, by considering the petitioner's

representation, dated 08.11.2025.

2. According to the learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner,

the petitioner is a widow and her husband's sister namely, Miss.M.Mahadevi,

was under her parent's custody. Her name was also reflected in the Family

Card. On 15.11.2021, when Mahadevi was performing agricultural work near

2/8

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 04/02/2026 04:24:27 pm )

W.P.(MD).No.35071 of 2025

the water channel, she accidently came in contact with the live wire fallen in

the water channel, got electrocuted and died on the spot. Hence, the present

writ petition has been filed seeking a compensation of Rs.10,00,000/-.

3. The third respondent has filed a counter to the effect that due to

heavy rain and lightning the tree branch fell on the live LT line and due to

which 11KV LT line got snapped and fallen down and unfortunately the

petitioner's sister came in contact with the snapped LT Line and got

electrocuted.

4. The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents

submitted that as per the Board proceedings, as the accident has taken place

on 15.11.2021, the petitioner is entitled to receive only a sum of Rs.5,00,000/-

and the petitioner cannot claim a sum of Rs.10,00,000/- based upon the Board

Proceedings No.11, dated 21.12.2024.

5. The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents also

relied upon the judgment of the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in

W.A.No.2419 of 2021, dated 24.06.2024 between (The Chairman,

3/8

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 04/02/2026 04:24:27 pm )

W.P.(MD).No.35071 of 2025

TANGEDCO, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and three others

Vs.Saraswathi and three others), wherein this Court has held that while

granting compensation for electrocution, the guidelines for the Motor

Vehicles Act cannot be adopted. He further submitted that the interest can be

calculated only from the date of writ petition.

6. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner brought to the

notice of this Court that the judgment of the Hon'ble Division Bench of this

Court in W.A.(MD)No.1978 of 2023, dated 16.11.2023 between (The

Chairman, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and three others Vs.C.Karna

Maharaja) in Paragraph No.5 wherein interest has been awarded from the

date of the death and therefore he submitted that the interest should be

calculated from the date of death and not from the date of filing of the writ

petition. He further submitted that when the Board Proceedings No.11, dated

2