HC asks NDMC, TPDDL to resolve dispute over power dues

The Delhi High Court today asked North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL) to resolve within three months their dispute over electricity dues which the civic agency has to pay the discom.
A bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice V K Jain passed the order on a PIL alleging that due to a dispute between them the power supply to streetlights in some areas of the national capital has been disconnected.
"As the dispute between them is recurring in nature, we direct the respondents (NDMC and TPDDL) to resolve the issue in three months," the bench said.

The court, while disposing of the plea, declined to direct NDMC to frame guidelines regarding providing, distributing and maintaining public services which includes streetlights.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by advocate Arpit Bhargava alleging the around 45,000 streetlights at 6 locations in North/Northwest Delhi have been disconnected on March 26.
Bhargava said he got to know about the reason behind disconnection of power supply from a press release issued by the discom which said that NDMC had failed to clear the dues of more than Rs 60 crore.
The counsel for the discom told the court that electricity was restored after the dispute was brought before the electricity regulatory tribunal where the matter is pending.