JAMMU, Mar 25: A bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal while dealing with petition titled “Arjun Kumar Sharma Versus State of J&K and Others” seeking compensation for the unfortunate death of petitioner’s three minor children who allegedly drowned in the forebay tank of the Chenani Hydel Project situated in village Pakhlai in district Udhampur on June 9, 2008 has held the authorities squarely liable for the drowning of three minor children in Udhampur, declaring the incident a “clear failure of public duty” and a breach of the right to life under Article 21.
Even though the children may not have begun earning, their lives possess immense value and their untimely death results in profound emotional and social loss to their parents. & directed authority's to pay compensation of Rs 2 lakh for each deceased child to the petitioner within a period of eight weeks
High Court directed the Chief Secretary to take cognizance of the issue and formulate a comprehensive policy ensuring proper fencing, installation of warning signboards and adoption of adequate safety measures around reservoirs, water bodies and other hazardous installations as such measures are imperative to safeguard human life and to ensure that tragedies of the present nature are not repeated in future.
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