HC disposes of TMC leader’s plea on power disconnection

SHILLONG, Aug 29: The High Court of Meghalaya on Monday disposed of a petition filed by Trinamool Congress national spokesperson Saket Gokhale without any direction. The matter pertains to arbitrary disconnection of electricity supply to entire villages in Garo Hills on account of a few of the villagers having allegedly defaulted in paying their dues.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh said that the petition is said to have been filed in public interest and it is evident that the election is round the corner.
The petition was moved by the petitioner in person, who introduces himself as a spokesperson of a political party, the court said.
In his petition, Gokhale said he was concerned that the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited and the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited have resorted to arbitrary disconnection of electricity supply to entire villages on account of a few of the villagers having allegedly defaulted in paying their dues.
Advocate General Amit Kumar who appeared on behalf of all the respondents, including the state government, submitted that there has been no disconnection of electricity of the kind complained of in the petition.
Kumar said transformers in several places in the South Garo Hills, including at Kalibari, were destroyed due to lightning strikes or otherwise damaged in the usual course and required repair or replacement.
According to the state government, the work may have taken some time but in most places the transformers have been repaired or new transformers have been put in place and the electricity supply to the relevant villages restored.
“In the light of the categorical submission on behalf of the respondents that no coercive action has been taken against the collective for the default in payment on the part of a few, nothing remains of this petition. Accordingly, PIL No 10 of 2022 is disposed of,” the court said.