Erickshaw recharge stations: HC stays proceedings in spl court

New Delhi, June 5: The Delhi High Court has put on hold the proceedings in a power theft case in which a special electricity court had issued directions to AAP government's Power Secretary to create legal recharging stations for e-rickshaws.

Justice Manmohan issued the interim direction on the plea of the AAP government which has challenged the special court's March 31 order on the ground that it has "assumed the jurisdiction of a writ court and has taken suo motu cognisance of charging of e-rickshaws".

In that order, the special court had directed the Secretary (Power), Delhi, to create legal recharging stations for e-rickshaws in a bid to stop theft of electricity and file a compliance report as to what steps have been taken in this regard.

The court had passed the order in an electricity theft case against Titu, a resident of Jahangir Puri, who was held guilty of committing theft of electricity through NDPL LV mains in 2014. It was alleged that no electricity meter was found installed at the site and a load of 15.790 KW was connected for commercial purpose during the inspection.

The high court also issued notice to Titu and sought his response by the next date of hearing, October 6. "In the meantime, the proceedings against the petitioners (Delhi government) before Additional Sessions Court, Special Electricity Court in sessions case No.131/15 (electricity theft case) are stayed," it said.

The Delhi government, in its plea in the high court, also challenged a show cause notice issued by the special court as well as its order of May 14 when it had directed the Chief Secretary to file a report along with a solution to the "desperate" problem of lack of authorised recharging stations for e-rickshaws to stop electricity theft in the national capital.

The government in its plea has contended that the special court was set up to provide speedy trial of offences of theft of electricity and its jurisdiction does not extend beyond that.

PTI