Also Read - ₹20,000 Monthly Maintenance Upheld for Wife and Child by Karnataka High Court

Further, the bench remarked that no prudent person would attempt to fix a fuse in a transformer merely to invite electrocution. Consequently, the act of fixing the fuse is itself a duty that falls upon the electricity company, not upon a member of the public.

The judgment also highlighted that the transformer installed on the pole was required to be hermetically sealed to prevent exposure of live parts. In the present case, the transformer was found to be kept open, which directly contributed to the accident. The court held that this omission constituted a failure on the part of PGVCL to fulfil its statutory duty of care.

Also Read - Supreme Court Clarifies Limitation for Probate Applications

By dismissing the appeal, the Gujarat High Court reinforced that an electricity supplier cannot escape liability by alleging the victim’s contributory negligence when the hazardous nature of its operations demands a higher standard of safety. The decision underscores the obligation of utility companies to ensure that their infrastructure is properly sealed and maintained, thereby protecting the public from foreseeable risks associated with the transmission of electricity.

The ruling is expected to influence future claims involving electrocution incidents where utility entities attempt to shift blame onto victims, clarifying that the absolute liability doctrine applies irrespective of the deceased’s conduct when the activity in question is inherently dangerous.

Also Read - Punjab and Haryana High Court Sets Aside Proclaimed Person Order Against NRI Woman