Bengaluru: Guard injured during Metro construction succumbs after 4 years
On a cold January night in 2012, 45-year-old security guard Chinnaswami reported for duty at a Namma Metro construction site near the KSRTC bus stand. His job was to safeguard the construction material as Bengaluru’s ambitious metro project slowly took shape. But what began as a routine night turned into a nightmare when three unidentified men armed with weapons attempted to steal from the site.
Chinnaswami, though outnumbered, confronted them bravely. The attackers assaulted him severely, inflicting spinal cord injuries that left him paralysed in all four limbs. Diagnosed with quadriparesis at Victoria Hospital and Nimhans, he battled complications for four years before succumbing on October 31, 2016.
Struggle for survival and livelihood
Employed with Canon Detective and Security Services for just two months before the attack, Chinnaswami earned ₹7,500 per month. His sudden disability left his wife and four children struggling without financial support. For years, the family depended on limited assistance while he remained bedridden.
His death in 2016 deepened their crisis, forcing them into a prolonged legal battle to seek compensation.
Legal fight for compensation
In 2019, the Employees Compensation Tribunal ruled that the family was entitled to ₹11,576 along with 12% annual interest under the Employees Compensation Act. The tribunal maintained that the responsibility lay solely with the employer, Canon Detective and Security Services.
Unhappy with the award, Chinnaswami’s wife and children continued their legal struggle. They argued that he had been employed since November 7, 2011, and that the construction work was carried out by Coastal, under an agreement with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). Therefore, they contended, liability should also extend to the contractor and BMRCL, not just the private security agency.
Questions over accountability
The case has raised important questions about the accountability of contractors, subcontractors, and government bodies in safeguarding contract workers engaged in risky infrastructure projects.
While BMRCL has expanded its network and launched multiple new lines since 2012, cases like Chinnaswami’s highlight gaps in worker safety and compensation mechanisms. Experts point out that daily-wage and contract staff, such as guards and labourers, often face the brunt of workplace risks without adequate protections.
A family’s continuing quest
For Chinnaswami’s widow and four children, the struggle for fair compensation continues. Beyond legal technicalities, their fight represents the plight of countless families of contract workers who risk their lives in infrastructure projects but are left vulnerable when tragedy strikes.
As Bengaluru’s Metro expands, the case is a reminder that progress should not come at the cost of workers’ safety and dignity.