TNEB rapped for affidavit delay
The Madras High Court on Thursday rapped the TNEB and imposed Rs 20,000 cost on it for delaying the filing of a counter affidavit in a PIL seeking direction to the board to rectify and replace unsafe and damaged electricity connection boxes and poles along city roads.
Granting two weeks time to TNEB to file the counter, subject to payment of Rs 20,000 in the HC Legal Services Committee, the first bench comprising chief justice M.Y. Eqbal and justice T.S. Sivaganam directed the TNEB chairman to appear in person, if the counter affidavit is not filed in the adjourned date.
Coming down heavily on the board, the bench, referring to a direction it gave way back on April 2, 2012, said the counter affidavit has not been filed although the “matter appears to be very serious one”.
“It is imperative to take notice of the fact that TNEB is totally ineffective to even pursue court proceedings in as much as the counter affidavit has not been filed within the time as directed by this court,” the bench observed.
Petitioner R. Anbazhagan, general secretary of Nethaji Pokkuvarathu Thozhilalargal Pathukappu Thozhir Sangam, who made a representation to the TNEB in September 2011 seeking to replace the weak and damaged open boxes and poles present perilously along the roads, submitted before the court that the poles and boxes fixed before many years were in very pathetic condition and they have lost their efficiency in supplying the power in the metropolitan area.
Describing the boxes and poles as “death traps”, the petitioner said that rainwater stagnates near the open boxes and there was a possibility of electricity leakage in to the water, causing fire in the adjoining huts.
Recalling an inquiry made by a TNEB official following his representation, Mr Anbazhagan said the board had not attended the defects mentioned in his representation.
Villivakkam, Tirumangalam, Anna Nagar, Ambattur, Avadi, Padi and Thondairpettai were among the other areas mentioned.
Post new comment