KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has summoned the government regarding the decision to restore electricity to industries without collecting outstanding dues in the ongoing dispute over electricity tariffs for customers using dedicated feeders and trunk lines.
A bench led by Justice Nityananda Pandey issued the order after a preliminary hearing of a petition filed by advocate Khadananda Kandel challenging the government’s decision.
The cabinet meeting held last Sunday directed the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation to restore electricity connections within 24 hours to industries where power had been cut.
In response to a writ petition filed against this directive, the Supreme Court will hold discussions with both parties before deciding whether to issue an interim order.
Advocate Kandel has argued that the decision to reconnect electricity without addressing outstanding arrears is illegal and detrimental to the proper functioning of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
After hearing from both sides, the Supreme Court will decide on the issuance of an interim order.
The government’s action followed the directives of the Council of Ministers, which were based on a report from an inquiry commission chaired by former Supreme Court judge Girish Chandra Lal.
The commission was formed to resolve the ongoing dispute related to the electricity tariffs for consumers on dedicated feeders and trunk lines.
On Tuesday, the Board of Directors of the Nepal Electricity Authority also decided to immediately reconnect the industries that had been disconnected.
However, a writ petition was subsequently filed in the Supreme Court seeking to halt the government’s decision, as the outstanding dues have yet to be paid.
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