Taking suo motu cognisance of the recent electrocution deaths of a former village sarpanch and her two sons in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district, the Chhattisgarh High Court has sought detailed affidavits from the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) and the state Energy Department regarding measures to prevent such incidents.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal treated media reports on the incident as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and directed the Managing Director of CSPDCL and the Principal Secretary of the Energy Department to explain the existing safety mechanisms, inspection protocols and preventive measures related to electrical infrastructure across the state.

Court Raises Public Safety Concerns

The High Court observed that deaths caused by electrically charged fencing have become a recurring concern in Chhattisgarh. Farmers and property owners often install live electric fencing around agricultural fields, farmhouses and residential premises to protect crops, livestock and property. However, such illegal practices have repeatedly resulted in fatal accidents involving unsuspecting people.

The bench remarked that the issue extends beyond human safety, affecting domestic animals and wildlife as well, making it a matter of broader public safety and environmental concern.

Criminal Cases Alone Not Enough

During the hearing, the court noted that merely registering criminal cases against those responsible after accidents is insufficient. The repeated occurrence of similar incidents indicates the need for a comprehensive and long-term preventive framework.

The judges stressed that authorities must establish effective monitoring systems, regular inspections and accountability mechanisms to minimise electrocution-related fatalities across the state.

Questions on Policy and SOP

The High Court has directed that the Managing Director of CSPDCL be formally impleaded as a respondent in the PIL. It has also sought clarification from the state government on whether a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) or any specific policy currently exists to prevent deaths caused by illegal electric fencing and unsafe electrical infrastructure.

If no such policy exists, the court has instructed the authorities to specify the proposed timeline for formulating and implementing one. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for July 23.

Incident Triggering Court Action

The court's intervention follows the deaths of a former woman sarpanch and her two sons in Bhadam village of Kota block after they allegedly came in contact with an electrified fence while working in their agricultural field.

The tragic incident prompted widespread concern over the growing number of electrocution deaths in rural areas.

Eight Deaths in Two Months

According to reports placed before the court, Bilaspur district has witnessed at least eight electrocution-related deaths over the past two months. Residents have also raised concerns over sagging power lines, deteriorating electrical infrastructure and inadequate preventive action by authorities.

While the power department has largely issued public advisories urging caution, the High Court indicated that stronger institutional measures are necessary to prevent future tragedies.

The matter comes even as another case concerning the state's electricity infrastructure remains pending before the High Court.