Bhopal: The issue of waiving of electricity bill by Madhya Pradesh government has reached Supreme Court after High Court dismissed the petition filed by Upbhokta Margdharshak Mandal.
Madhya Pradesh government has announced an outstanding power bill waiver scheme for labourers and poor families and decided to provide electricity at a cost of Rs 200 per month with effect from July 1. Challenging the decision, the board had moved High Court stating that BJP government’s move has increased the burden on other electricity consumers.
Mandal’s convener Dr PG Najpandey said that they had filed a petition in High Court which was rejected and now they have moved Supreme Court challenging the government’s decision to waive off electricity bill of BPL families.
HC rejected our petition stating that it was a matter of government and electricity companies and that if discoms have no problems then the matter ends there, said Najpandey quoting the court.
In 2003, Madhya Pradesh government had done the same thing but High Court had then instructed it to deposit Rs 100 crore before taking such populist decision, informed Najpandey. Therefore, on the same lines, MP government should have deposited Rs 5000 crore before waiving the electricity bills, he said. The government move has burden the other electricity consumers, he added.
In its petition filed in Supreme Court, the board claimed that the government has taken the decision for political reasons in view of the ensuing Assembly elections. But it is against the interest of the larger section of people and consumers are at receiving end, the board mentioned in its petition.
