SDO, JE get 15-day jail for snapping power supply despite stay

Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Rewari, August 10

Civil Judge (Senior Division) Mohit Aggarwal has sentenced SDO Vijay Pal Singh and Junior Engineer (JE) Parveen Yadav of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) to civil imprisonment for 15 days for disconnecting electricity supply to a consumer despite a stay ordered by the court.

In its order pronounced on Friday, the Judge stated that the Supreme Court in its various decisions had held that ‘Right to life’ as enshrined under Article 21 in the Constitution of India also includes ‘Right to shelter’, which further includes ‘Right to electricity and water’ and is, therefore, a basic right.

“Besides the fact that the consumption of electricity is a basic necessity, the court vide its order dated May 8 had specifically directed the DHBVN not to disconnect electricity supply to the premises of the plaintiff. This makes the act of electricity supply disconnection by the respondents more grave in nature,” reads the judgment.

Vashu Dev Sharma, plaintiff, in his contempt petition, said that JE Parveen Yadav, on August 7, disconnected power supply to his premises though he was shown a copy of the court order.

Hearing the petition, the court issued show cause notices to the SDO and the JE, asking them to explain as to why they should not be sent to civil imprisonment for the violation of the court order. In his reply, the JE said that he was not aware of the court order. Since the plaintiff’s name was on the defaulters’ list, electricity supply to his premises was disconnected.

“The violation of the court order by government officials is a very serious matter. It is not believable that the JE will disconnect electricity supply to the premises of any consumer without the knowledge of his senior officer while the SDO is supposed to notify the list of cases in which an injunction order has been passed and circulate it among his officials, who deal with power connections,” states the order.

Sources said both officials, soon after the judgment, approached the court of Additional Sessions Judge, which stayed the sentence order till August 13.