HC directs PSERC to decide on revised power tariff from back date

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday directed the Punjab State Electricity Commission (PSERC) to take a decision within two months on the representation seeking quashing of its order issued in August to enforce increased power tariff for the financial year 2014-15 with retrospective effect from April.

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday directed the Punjab State Electricity Commission (PSERC) to take a decision within two months on the representation seeking quashing of its order issued in August to enforce increased power tariff for the financial year 2014-15 with retrospective effect from April.

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As per the new tariff order, the power tariff for agriculture sector was increased by 7.29% whereas there was a hike of up to 2% for all other consumer sections.

The directions came from the division bench comprising acting chief justice Ashutosh Mohunta and justice HS Sidhu while disposing of a public interest litigation filed by NGO International Human Rights Association of Sunam in Sangrur district.

The petitioner had sought quashing of the tariff order issued by PSERC on August 22 and the resultant notification to the extent of their operating with retrospective effect from April 1.

Petitioner's advocate Abhishek Goyal argued that PSERC's decision created an additional burden on the consumers and the industry of the state as they would have to pay additional charges. The petitioner also submitted that it was against the concept of the social welfare government and also that no law or policy could be made applicable from the back date to the disadvantage of the public.

The court was informed that on August 23 the organisation had addressed a letter to the chief minister requesting that the notification be made enforceable from the date on which it was issued but no action had been taken.