Chandigarh, January 2: The political controversy generated by the discontinuation of a scheme launched by the previous Akali-BJP government for providing free power to cow shelters seems to be heading for a solution.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a committee headed by the Punjab Chief Secretary to examine in a time-bound manner whether the state could discontinue its scheme for providing free electricity to gaushalas while collecting cow cess from the citizens.
The Opposition had attacked the government for accumulating approximately Rs 50 crore from cow cess, but not continuing with the free power scheme.
Disposing of a bunch of petitions, Justice Rajan Gupta directed the committee, comprising the Chief Secretary and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited chairman, to look into the matter. The directions came on petitions by the Jai Mata Vaishno Gaushala Society.
Justice Gupta’s Bench was told that the petitioners were aggrieved by a commercial circular whereby recovery of pending dues on account of free electricity to registered gaushalas was ordered. Their counsel urged that the state was collecting cow cess from the citizens, yet it decided not to provide free power.
Justice Gupta asked the state counsel on whether the matter could be decided by the authorities. In response, the counsel contended that it could indeed be done by the state and other respondents.
The state counsel also assured that recovery of dues would not be ordered as of now. The supply of electricity, too, would not be disconnected till the decision was taken.
“The decision shall be taken within two months. In case of an adverse decision, the petitioner shall be at liberty to seek redress,” Justice Gupta said.
Source Tribune India
