In a landmark ruling, the Jammu & Kashmir High Court has emphasized that news reports cannot be treated as proven facts in legal proceedings unless verified by the maker of the report. Justice Sanjay Dhar made this observation while ordering ₹10 lakh compensation to the heirs of Satya Devi, who died of electrocution in 2007.
The case stemmed from the death of Satya Devi, who was electrocuted in a forest while searching for a missing buffalo. Her sons alleged that her death occurred due to the negligence of the electricity authorities, who failed to repair broken live wires despite prior complaints from local residents.
The electricity authorities contested these claims, citing a news report from The Daily Excelsior that stated Satya Devi had died during a thunderstorm. Rejecting this argument, the Court underscored:
“A statement of fact contained in a newspaper is merely hearsay and, in the absence of a statement from the maker of the news report, the same cannot be relied upon as a proved fact.”
Instead, the Court relied on a post-mortem report confirming that Satya Devi had died from electrocution. Noting the government’s 2019 policy to provide ₹10 lakh ex gratia to the heirs of individuals who die due to electrocution, the Court directed the authorities to compensate the petitioners.
In its ruling, the Court also highlighted the importance of maintaining electrical infrastructure, specifically pointing to negligence in ensuring proper earthing of electrical systems. The Court observed that the tragic incident could have been averted if safety protocols, such as proper grounding of electric lines, were adhered to diligently.
This judgment reaffirms the judiciary’s stance on holding public authorities accountable for negligence and underscores the importance of relying on verified evidence in legal proceedings.
