The Andhra Pradesh High Court has accepted the public interest litigation (PIL) that has been filed against the state government for increasing electricity charges.  Acting on the PIL filed by an ex-electricity employee, the court has served notices on APERC secretary, APCPDCL CMD and state electricity chief secretary.

The High Court has, however, rejected the request of the petition, who stated that the new electricity charges should not come into effect until the inquiry is completed.  The counsel of the petitioner made strong arguments that APERC granting permission for increasing electricity in financial year 2012-13 is against the law. 

The bench comprising chief justice Madhan B. Lokur and Justice P V Sanjar Kumar took up the PIL and started the inquiry on Monday. Meanwhile, opposition parties too have been crying foul over the increase of electricity charges and Congress’ person himself, Chiranjeevi wrote to chief minister requesting him for rolling down these prices as they would not benefit the mankind nor the government. All in all, electricity price hike issue has become a burning problem in the state.

Now that the matter is prejudice, the opposition parties might focus on other burning issues-right from illegal liquor syndicate to illegal sand mining- to criticize the government.  Overall, it has been a bumpy ride to Kiran Kumar Reddy ever since he became the chief minister. (Phani)