FIR registered in PU scholar’s death by electrocution, University announces Rs 16 lakh aid

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Chandigarh, July 29

A case of causing death by negligence has been registered in connection with the death of a 28-year-old PhD scholar by electrocution at Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, Police said on Wednesday. The university has also announced financial assistance of Rs 16 lakh and a job for the victim’s brother. Jyoti, a resident of Rewari, Haryana, was pursuing a PhD in the Department of Microbiology and was staying in Girls’ Hostel-10.

As an immediate action Panjab University has suspended Lakhwinder Singh Dhanoa, the officiating Sub-Divisional Engineer (Electrical), Works Department. According to the official order, the suspension will remain in force until the completion of the ongoing inquiry or until further orders, whichever is earlier. During the suspension period, Singh will receive subsistence allowance as per the university rules, while the Registrar has been assigned an additional charge of the post until further orders.

According to the police and the university officials, the tragic incident occurred on Tuesday morning when Jyoti was walking from her hostel to her department. As heavy rainfall had waterlogged the usual route, she took an unpaved pathway between Girls’ Hostel-8 and the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), where she allegedly came into contact with an electric current believed to have originated from a nearby electrical junction box or another faulty installation nearby. She was rushed to Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an FIR at Sector 11 Police Station under charges of causing death by negligence. Investigators are examining whether the current originated from an electric pole, streetlight, exposed wire, junction box or another defective electrical source. Police said further action will be taken after the post-mortem examination and technical reports are received. The victim’s family has consented to the post-mortem.

Following a late-night meeting with Jyoti’s family on Tuesday, the university announced a compensation package of Rs 16 lakh, including Rs 5 lakh from the Vice-Chancellor’s discretionary fund and Rs 11 lakh through the office of the Dean Student Welfare (DSW). The university also said Jyoti’s brother, who has completed Class 12 and holds an ITI qualification in Electrical Trade, will be offered employment as an electrician in accordance with Punjab government rules.

The incident triggered protests on the campus, with students staging a dharna outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office and demanding accountability over the electrical safety in the campus. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig assured protesters that a committee would investigate the incident. “It is an unfortunate incident, and we will do whatever we can to get to the root of the truth. If anyone is responsible for the incident, responsibility will be fixed,” she said. Jyoti, who supported her family through her Senior Research Fellowship, was reportedly due to get married next month. The investigation is still ongoing in the case.