Electricity distribution companies (DISCOMS) in Delhi have received a setback from the High Court. Delhi High Court has refused to interfere in the notice of Delhi government on CAG audit of BSES Rajdhani, BSES Yamuna. The High Court on Monday clearly refused to interfere in the Delhi government's proposal to hand over the audit of BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and BSES Yamuna Power Limited to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
The vacation bench of Justice Tejas Karia rejected a petition by power distribution companies saying that their challenge at this stage was premature. Justice Karia said that the Delhi government's notice dated June 6, proposing to hand over the audit of the petitioners to the CAG, does not have any adverse effect that warrants any interference at this stage, and merely provides an opportunity to the power distribution companies to present their views and appear for hearing before the authorities.
Delhi High Court has refused to interfere at the 'show-cause' stage, but the court has kept open all the important objections on the proposed CAG audit by BSES (for the tariff case of about Rs 30,000 crore). The validity of the audit and the impact of APTEL's orders will be decided in the ongoing proceedings.
On the other hand, Delhi Energy Minister Ashish Sood welcomed the decision of Delhi High Court and said that the petition filed by power companies to oppose the CAG audit has been rejected by the Delhi High Court on Monday. With the power companies going to the High Court to oppose the CAG audit, the truth of the ongoing nexus between the Aam Aadmi Party government, Arvind Kejriwal and the power companies has been exposed before the people of Delhi.
The Delhi government presented the interests of the people of the state in the High Court with full political will and determination. The result of this is that the High Court rejected the objections of the power companies and reprimanded them and cleared the way for the CAG audit. Now LG will be able to hear the CAG audit.
The Energy Minister says that the Delhi government is committed to exposing this nexus of Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party and power companies and providing uninterrupted electricity to the people of Delhi without any additional burden. We will continue to fight till the last moment for our commitment that the people of Delhi will not be allowed to bear the additional burden of even a single rupee in the form of increase in electricity rates.
