News Citation : 2026 LN (HC) 184 | 2026:CGHC:9963-DB

February 26, 2026 : The Chhattisgarh High Court has closed a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that was initiated following tragic incidents of children dying due to electrocution in the state. The Court observed that the State authorities had taken necessary action, conducted inquiries and implemented preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.

The PIL was registered in 2025 after news reports published in The Hitavada – Window on Chhattisgarh highlighted two disturbing incidents involving the deaths of children due to electrocution.

The first incident occurred in Kondagaon district, where a two-and-a-half-year-old child, Maheshwari Yadav, died after coming into contact with a live wire inside an Anganwadi Centre. The child had been playing in the premises when she received a severe electric shock and died on the spot. Reports indicated that the Anganwadi Centre had exposed wires, damaged switches and unsafe electrical fittings, despite repeated complaints being made to the authorities. Following the incident, administrative action was taken. The Anganwadi worker and assistant were dismissed from service, while the sector supervisor was suspended for failing to ensure proper supervision.

The second case involved a six-year-old child in Village Kargikala in the Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district. The child died after touching an electric wire connected to a field fence. According to reports, the landowner had illegally connected direct electric supply to the fencing instead of installing a proper shock-based fencing system to protect crops from cattle. Police registered a case under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

While hearing the matter, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal expressed serious concern about the growing number of electrocution incidents in rural areas. The Court observed that illegal electric connections used for crop protection or for fishing in water bodies often result in the deaths of humans, cattle and wild animals. It also noted that many such installations lack warning signs and become especially dangerous during the rainy season when floodwaters spread electricity to surrounding areas.

The Court had directed the Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh to submit a detailed affidavit outlining the action taken in the reported incidents, the compensation paid to the victims’ families and the preventive measures being implemented statewide.

In response, the State informed the Court that inquiries had been conducted in both cases. In the Kondagaon incident, an inspection revealed that a damaged power supply line had electrified the channel gate of the Anganwadi Centre. Departmental action was taken against the responsible staff, and statewide safety directions were issued to inspect electrical installations at Anganwadi centres. The family of the deceased child was also provided ex-gratia compensation of ₹1 lakh.

In the second incident, authorities confirmed that the landowner had illegally used a jerk machine connected to wired fencing, which caused the child’s death. An FIR was registered, and the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company issued instructions for inspections and action against illegal electricity connections. The child’s mother was granted ex-gratia compensation of ₹4 lakh.

The State further informed the Court that inspection drives had been conducted and preventive measures had been implemented to curb unauthorized use of electricity and ensure electrical safety. Authorities also stated that no similar incidents had been reported after the measures were put in place.

Taking note of the steps taken by the State government, the compensation provided to the families and the absence of subsequent incidents, the High Court held that no further directions were required. The Court therefore consigned the case to records.

Case Reference : WPPIL No. 84 of 2025, In the Matter of Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation Based on News Item Published in Window on Chhattisgarh, The Hitavada, dated 13 September 2025, namely “Child Dies at Anganwadi Centre After Electrocution” and “Child Dies of Electrocution” vs State of Chhattisgarh and Others; Counsels: For Petitioner(s) – None; For Respondent Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 – Mr. Shashank Thakur, Additional Advocate General; For Respondent Nos. 3, 8 and 9 – Mr. Mayank Chandrakar, Advocate.