HC orders police protection to BSES staff going to power supply

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed police to provide protection to BSES officials when they go to restore the power connection at the premises of a 66-year-old woman, who had complained that she has been staying without elec tricity for over four months.

Justice A.K. Pathak asked the Station House Officer (SHO) of Lajpat Nagar police station in south Delhi to ensure that BSES officials are protected when they visit the house of Chander Kanta Malhotra, widow of an ex-armyman on July 1.

Power supply was disconnected in February this year by a former local councillor in order to force her to vacate the house, Malhotra has said.

Earlier, the consumer grievance redressal forum set up under the Electricity Act had directed police to provide protection to BSES officials to restore electricity connection. The woman, who has been living in the house since 1992, in her petition before the court, claimed that despite the forum's order, police did not provide protection to the BSES employees who had come to install the meter at house following the forum's order.

The woman has said th at she does not have electricity in her house due to the "influence" of former councillor Subhash Malhotra and no assistance from Delhi Police.

--IANS

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