The Madhya Pradesh West Zone Electricity Distribution Company successfully resolved 2,656 electricity-related cases during the second National Lok Adalat of the year.
This initiative, conducted across 425 zones encompassing 15 districts, resulted in a total waiver of approximately ₹89 lakh, offering substantial relief to thousands of consumers. The resolved cases, amounting to civil liabilities totalling ₹4.87 crore, included 2,274 instances where the liabilities were under ₹10 lakh. Eligible consumers benefited from rebates aligned with the company’s guidelines and legal provisions. This effort targeted disputes involving electricity theft and irregularities registered under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
Preparations for the Lok Adalat were extensive, with thousands of notices issued to encourage settlements. The initiative aimed to reduce legal backlogs while providing practical, time-bound resolutions to power-related disputes. The Lok Adalat offered significant incentives: a 30% discount on civil liability amounts and a 100% waiver on interest for pre-litigation cases applicable to domestic, agricultural, non-domestic (up to 5 kW), and industrial (up to 10 HP load) consumers in the low-pressure category. For litigation-level cases, a 20% discount on estimated civil liability and a 100% waiver on interest were provided.
This approach not only facilitated swift justice but also promoted sustainable practices by encouraging consumers to regularize their electricity connections, thereby reducing instances of power theft and associated losses. The success of this Lok Adalat underscores the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in addressing utility-related conflicts and highlights the importance of collaborative efforts between legal institutions and service providers in fostering equitable and sustainable urban development.
MP Resolves 2,600 Power Disputes in Lok Adalat