UPPCL moves apex court against HC order
The UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court, seeking relief from the recent Allahabad high court judgment that had taken exception to the corporation giving 24-hour supply to some so-called VVIP districts while subjecting other districts to indiscriminate power cuts.
The UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court, seeking relief from the recent Allahabad high court judgment that had taken exception to the corporation giving 24-hour supply to some so-called VVIP districts while subjecting other districts to indiscriminate power cuts.
The corporation, in i ts appeal filed through one of its directors, has taken the plea that the writ petition on which the high court order came on July 5 was filed by cold storage owners who complained that the UPPCL was discriminating against them in supplying electricity, but the court went beyond the relief sought by petitioners.
The corporation is also said to have pleaded in the appeal that if it chose to implement the high court order, it would mean stopping 24-hour power supply to Lucknow as well.
“This is because the state capital is also treated as a VVIP town like some other towns and districts which were being given round-theclock supply and which the high court declared to be unconstitutional,” the official pointed out.
The high court had directed the UPPCL to make equitable distribution of electricity to all consumers without any discrimination based on place of residence.
The bench comprising justice Sudhir Agarwal and justice Sunita Agarwal had observed that continuous supply to certain places and cities like Etawah, Mainpuri, Kannauj, Rampur, Sambhal, Rae Barelli and Amethi was arbitrary and illegal.
It directed the UPPCL to supply electricity to all the consumers, irrespective of place of residence (except the area covered by Taj Trapezium Zone in view of directions of the Supreme Court.)
Sources said though there was a thinking within the corporation that the HC order could be a blessing in disguise to it as it may rid it of political pressure to give 24-hour supply to certain districts.
“But implementing the HC order without even filing an appeal against it in the apex court would have displeased political masters as their districts are benefiting from the 24-hour power supply,” the sources explained, adding “Otherwise, the HC order is in the UPPCL’s interest.