Chinnaswamy stampede case: CAT quashes suspension of IPS officer Vikas Kumar
Bengaluru: In a setback to the Karnataka state government, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has overturned the suspension of IPS officer Vikas Kumar in connection with the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede incident.
The tribunal bench comprising Justice B.K. Srivatsava and Justice Santosh Mehra delivered the verdict after hearing the plea filed by Kumar challenging the state’s suspension order. The CAT not only revoked the suspension but also directed the government to reinstate all pending benefits and allowances owed to the officer.
Senior advocate Dhyan Chinappa represented Vikas Kumar during the proceedings. With this order, the suspended officer has been granted relief by the tribunal.
Vikas Kumar, who was serving as the Additional Commissioner of Police (West Division), was suspended following a tragic stampede at the Chinnaswamy Stadium that resulted in the deaths of 11 people. Questioning the disciplinary action, Kumar had approached the CAT seeking redress.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
