PIL filed to fight load-shedding

The load-shedding issue reached the Bombay High Court when a Thane-based lawyer, Vijay Patil, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), saying that load-shedding was a violation of an individual’s right to life.

Alleging that the way load-shedding was being observed in the city was discriminatory, Patil’s petition said, “When residents in areas like Thane, Bhandup and Mulund (facing up to four hours load shedding a day) also pay taxes, like those living in the Western suburbs, why should only they face it.”

He cited an order of the SC that asked the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission to take appropriate steps pertaining to electricity shortage and stated that it could not discriminate between consumers.

Patil also raised the issue of the state giving power to other states in times of shortage. He urged the court for an injunction to state government and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd for supplying power to other states.