10L aid to family of seven-year-old electrocuted at PBEL City in 2019

Hyderabad: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-II of Hyderabad directed PBEL City's builder, its owners' association, and the facility management contractor to jointly pay 10 lakh as compensation to the family of a seven-year-old boy. The boy was electrocuted while playing inside PBEL City under Narsingi police station limits in 2019.In its order dated Feb 10, 2026, the three-member bench directed the maintenance contractor, Golden Star facilities & services, the builder, INCOR Appa Projects, and the PBEL City owners association to pay 10 lakh as compensation and 10,000 as litigation costs to the complainant, Deevakar Kuppuswamy, the child's father. The amount must be remitted within 45 days, failing which it will carry 12% annual interest from the date of default until realisation.According to the complaint filed on May 10, 2019, Deevakar's son was playing near a lamppost in the children's play area on Feb 11, 2019, when he suffered a fatal electric shock. An FIR registered at Narsingi police station recorded the incident, and the post-mortem confirmed death due to cardio-respiratory arrest caused by electrocution.During the investigation, Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company (TGSPDCL) officials inspected the spot and reported that the miniature circuit breaker (MCB) connected to the lamppost had been bypassed and a direct power supply was provided. "Due to the tampering and improper reconnection, electricity started flowing through the lamppost and when the victim touched the post, he was electrocuted," the order quoted the TGSPDCL report.The commission noted that the TGSPDCL report established improper maintenance and tampering of electrical fittings. Golden Star, the maintenance contractor, argued that the bypass was carried out by the builder's project team and that procurement of replacement parts lay outside its scope. INCOR contended that it had handed over maintenance of four blocks of the residential society to the PBEL City owners' association in 2016 and therefore bore no responsibility. The association claimed it had an agreement with Golden Star only for those four blocks and that it was not responsible for the accident that occurred elsewhere.Rejecting the defences, the commission observed that all respondents collected maintenance charges from residents and were collectively duty-bound to ensure safety across the entire premises. Citing clauses in the 2017 housekeeping agreement, the commission said Golden Star had explicitly undertaken to operate and maintain the electrical system, while the association was expected to supervise the contractor's work and the builder to deliver a hazard-free project. "We are of the considered opinion that there is deficiency in service on the part of the opposite parties in providing safety, security and proper services," the order stated.The commission further remarked that no monetary award could truly compensate the family's trauma, but fixed 10 lakh as compensation for "causing mental agony and hardship to the complainant for his lifetime."