High Court halts mandatory installation of smart meters by BESCOM
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court passed an interim order on Friday staying the mandatory installation of smart meters for electricity supply connection by the Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) and the state government.
The petition was filed by M Jayalakshmi, a resident of Doddaballapur town in Bengaluru Rural district, challenging the BESCOM communication to her asking for a payment of Rs 8,800 for the installation of the smart meter. She had said that, on March 29, she had submitted a requisition to convert the single-phase meter connection for her house located at TB Natayanappa Layout to a three-phase meter connection.
Jayalakshmi’s advocate, Prabhuling Navadgi, argued that, although the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has said that smart meters are optional, except for temporary connections, BESCOM has made it mandatory.
The installation charges, which were earlier Rs 2,000 in Karnataka, now cost Rs 8,510, proving to be a huge burden on the consumers. Also, the charges for the new meters are only Rs 900 in the neighbouring states, Navadgi pointed out. He opined that, the entire process being outsources to private agencies, making the installation of smart meters mandatory would be harsh on the consumers.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, who heard the case, questioned the respondents and also asked if the problem was an outcome of the freebies by the government.
"Advocates say that in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, it costs Rs 900. Where will poor people go? Who asked for free electricity? This is what you should reduce. You have outsourced the thing. Now if you say all permanent connections must have smart meters, where will the poor go?" the judge said.
The case has been adjourned till June 4.
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Ordinance issued to increase number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38
New Delhi (PTI): The government has promulgated an ordinance to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from the present 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The law ministry notified the ordinance on Saturday, which amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of the top court.
So far, the sanctioned strength of the top court was 34, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Now, the number of judges has been increased by four, taking the sanctioned strength to 38.
The top court will now have 37 judges, other than the CJI.
With the apex court having two vacancies at present, and the ordinance coming into force immediately, the Supreme Court Collegium will now have to recommend six names for appointment as judges in the top court.
A bill will be brought in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to convert the ordinance – an executive order – into a law passed by Parliament.
The Union Cabinet had cleared a draft bill on May 5 to increase the number of apex court judges.
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI) in 2019.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986, augmented the strength of judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI.
A fresh amendment in 2009 further increased the strength from 25 to 30.
Article 124(3) of the Constitution lists the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court judge.
An Indian citizen who has either served as a high court judge for at least five years, or as an advocate for 10 years, or is a distinguished jurist, can be appointed to the top court.
The strength of the Supreme Court is increased based on the recommendations of the CJI, who writes to the Union law minister. After consulting the finance ministry, the Department of Justice under the law ministry moves the Cabinet with a draft bill.
