Unpaid bills and consumers: Court tells KESC to deal differently

Utility accuses residents of using kundas, while people level charge of apathy at KESC.

KARACHI:

The residents of Jilani Muhalla, Yousuf Goth in Cattle Colony, filed a constitutional petition in the Sindh High Court, claiming that the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has an indifferent attitude towards its customers and has been unable to restore electricity to the neighbourhood. Forty-eight days have passed since a pole-mounted transformer burned down on April 25. KESC was requested to repair it.

The petition was heard on Tuesday by an SHC division bench. The KESC lawyer stated that the connection was not restored as the petitioners/residents owe Rs500,000 in unpaid bills. He also cited illegal kunda connections as another reason why the supply was not restored.

The court disagreed here, saying that it was the duty of the utility to take down illegal connections and not paying bills is an issue that needs to be tackled differently. In a stern tone, the bench told the KESC lawyer that a large area’s disconnection could not be justified in any manner.

Then KESC blamed the law and order situation and the agitated shortage of labour due to the workers’ strike. The petitioners’ counsel, meanwhile, showed the copies of their paid bills and stated that they have no unpaid dues.

After hearing both the sides, the bench gave more time to KESC and adjourned the hearing till June 17.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2011.