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The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed Oil and Natural Gas Corporation in Karaikkal to pay INR 8.80 lakh as compensation to a minor boy, whose vital organs were removed due to an explosion of a pumping machine installed by the ONGC in 2008.

Justice V Ramasubramanian while allowing a petition filed by D Narayanasamy, father of the boy N Jayaprakesh, in his order also directed District Collector of Tiruvarur to pay INR 3 lakh on behalf of District Educational officer and Head Master of Government Higher Secondary School, Pulivalam, Thiruvarur District.

Jayaprakash, who was participating in the National Service Scheme programme in the school in October 2008, sustained serious injuries when the pumping machine exploded. On the recommendation of the District Collector, the ONGC gave INR 50,000 for his treatment at a private hospital. Since the hospital demanded more money for continuing the treatment, Narayanasamy approached the court seeking a direction to pay a compensation of INR 10 lakh by ONGC as well as the educational authorities.

The Judge while rejecting the contention of ONGC that it could not give compensation as the incident had occurred 70 meters away from the site of their establishment, said “the negligence on the part of ONGC is more, in view of the fact that they were operating a pumping machine, in an open field, which neither had a fencing nor had warning sign boards nor any watch and ward staff.”

The judge also rejected the claim of the school authorities and the District Educational Officer that they cannot be made responsible for the incident. The judge directed the ONGC and the District Collector to pay the amounts within four weeks from the date of receipt of the copy of the order. If they fail to pay within the above time, they should pay interest at the rate of 7.5 per cent per annum from the date of expiry of the period stipulated, the judge said.

Source-On Request