6.185 Taking suo motu cognizance of the press report, the Commission forwarded a copy of the press report to the Chief Secretary, Government of Orissa and called for a factual report. 6.186 In response, a report received from the State authorities disclosed that during inquiry contents of the press report were not found to be based on facts. The report further disclosed that the issue was also discussed in the Orissa Legislative Assembly and a House Committee had been constituted on the subject matter under the chairmanship of the Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management. 6.187 Since the State Legislature was seized of the matter, the Commission did not proceed further and closed the case. m) Electrocution Case 44. Death of Ravikant Puri due to Electrocution in Alamganj, Patna, Bihar (Case No. 1902/4/2000-2001) 6.188 The Commission received a complaint from one Smt. Sarita Puri, a resident of Alamganj, Bihar that on 24 May 1999 her son Ravikant Puri came in contact with a live electric wire lying on the road he was passing by and instantly died of electrocution. Stating that her son died due to negligence on the part of the Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB), Smt. Puri approached the higher authorities for compensation but the same was denied to her. She thus fervently prayed to the Commission that the BSEB be directed to pay her compensation of Rs. 2,00,000 for negligence on its part. 6.189 On a complaint made by the Assistant Electrical Engineer, an FIR was registered at Police Station Alamganj. On enquiry, the BSEB claimed that a truck had hit and damaged an electric pole which led to the death of Ravikant Puri and that they in no way were negligent. The complainant, according to them, was not entitled to any compensation. 6.190 The Commission observed that "it is a settled law that in case of electrocution death, the liability of the electric supply company is absolute. The Board may have a remedy in law to recover the amount from the truck owner or Transport Company, but it must discharge its obligation to those who lost their lives after coming into contact with the live wire. The Commission also observed that even though the mother of only one of the 5 victims who died of electrocution had approached the Commission for relief, equity demands that all the five victims should receive compensation from the Electricity Board. Four of the victims have so far been identified. The Commission observed that the BSEB has itself framed rules which provide for immediate payment of Rs. 50,000 each in case of electrocution death. It therefore recommended the BSEB to pay an amount of Rs. 50,000 to the next of kin of Satya Narayan Beldar, Rameshwara Prasad, Umesh Kumar and Ravikant Puri.” Compliance report along with proof of payment is awaited. National Human Rights Commission 67