The Meghalaya High Court has ordered Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Mawphlang, to pay ₹6.5 lakh as compensation to the family of Nathaniel Sohtun, a Class 11 student who died of electrocution in 2024 due to poor electrical infrastructure and lack of safety protocols.Justice Hamar Sing Thangkhiew, delivering the verdict on July 29, said the compensation must be paid within eight weeks, in addition to the ₹1 lakh ex gratia already paid. The decision came in response to a writ petition filed by the student’s mother, Phidapherlin Sohtun.
The incident occurred on the terrace of the school hostel where Nathaniel and his friends went to bathe after a sports session. Despite being a restricted area, the terrace was left unlocked. The court found this a “clear failure of duty” by school staff and cited multiple reports highlighting dangerous lapses in electrical safety. Though no criminal negligence was established against Principal Neelam Sharma, a charge sheet has been filed against three other staff members in a pending criminal case.
The court ordered the school to conduct periodic safety audits, hire certified electricians, install danger signs, and implement stricter supervision—especially in hazardous areas.