Put 50% relief on power bills of AAP supporters on hold: HC

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court asked Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung not to take any further decision on the AAP government’s announcement to give 50% waiver on pending electricity bills of 24,036 consumers.

Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party government had decided to reward those who heeded his call to default on their electricity bills during his protest against ‘inflated’ bills. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice BD Ahmed and Justice Sidharth Mridul directed the Delhi government to clarify whether the cabinet has taken any decision on waiver of pending electricity bills.

The court also noted that while it appears that no decision had been taken, “there is no clarity on that”. “Get proper instructions and file an affidavit, if necessary, indicating the position,” the bench told the Delhi government standing counsel.

However, Kejriwal and his cabinet had given its approval to the power department’s proposal to provide 50% relief on pending arrears of those who had refused to pay bills in protest between October 2012 and May 2013, following which a press release was also issued by the then CM’s office.