Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jul 2: The state High Court on Wednesday July 1, issued notices to the union and state governments, for their failure to take necessary steps to meet the power shortage being faced by the people of the state.

A single-judge bench of the High Court, which took up a public interest litigation filed by an advocate, alleging that Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) has been imposing load-shedding on the people in violation of rules, asked the governments to come up with reports on the present power position. In his petition, city-based lawyer G R Mohan has complained that the general public has been facing untold miseries on account of frequent load-shedding. He also made the central government a party to the suit, by claiming that it has contributed to the problem by not supplying the state's share of power from the central grid.  He has further urged the High Court to instruct the state government to implement the Electricity Act 2003 forthwith.

The High Court, which heard the petition, ordered issuance of notices to KPTCL, chief secretary of the state government and senior officials of the energy department.