HC asks Chief Secy to list preventive steps

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 18

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Chief Secretary to file an affidavit on person responsible for the unfortunate incident that led to the death of Sangrur boy Fatehveer in a borewell. The Chief Secretary has also been asked to specify steps being taken by the state to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in future.

In copy of the order released today, the Bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Harnaresh Singh Gill also asked him to specify the measures adopted by the state to implement the Supreme Court judgment in “Measures for Prevention of Fatal Accidents of Small Children” case. The directions, issued on Monday, came just about a week after Fatehveer Singh’s body was pulled out of an uncovered 150-ft borewell on a petition filed in public interest alleging casual approach leading to the child’s death.

Seeking directions for formulating a policy on procedure to be adopted while digging and necessary precaution to be taken to prevent untoward incidents in future, petitioner Parminder Singh Sekhon had claimed that first 10 hours of the incident were wasted by the local administration due to lack of guidance or absence of policy required to be followed.

He added that a “very casual approach” was displayed towards the incident by officials, resulting in the child’s death. As such, responsibility was also required to be fixed for not performing duties effectively to save a human life.