The Delhi High Court has mandated that power distribution company BSES make an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to Shagufta Ali, the widow of a Sub-Inspector who was electrocuted in 2017.

Shagufta Ali had initially requested ₹50 lakh in compensation.

The single bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav directed BSES to complete the payment within three months, with an interest rate of 6% per annum applied to any delayed payments.

The court acknowledged that Shagufta Ali’s family had previously received ₹27,96,496 in pensionary benefits and continues to receive a monthly pension. It emphasized that this ex-gratia payment is distinct from any potential compensation awarded by a civil court, where Shagufta Ali may seek further legal remedies. BSES was advised to prevent unnecessary delays in the ongoing civil proceedings.

The court noted that the electrocution incident involved an outgoing wire leading to a channel gate, and BSES’s responsibility for the incident has not been conclusively determined.

The Electricity Act, 2003 does not place sole responsibility on BSES, and the consumer-shopkeeper is the primary accused in the charge sheet. The court specified that any definitive negligence by BSES would need to be established through evidence in a competent civil court