The Madras High Court on Monday called for details of its Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) regarding the Tatkal scheme introduced in September last for obtaining free power connections provided to farmers on payment of one-time deposits in lumpsum.
A Division Bench of Justices Vineet Kothari and Anita Sumanth asked Advocate General Vijay Narayan to submit by January 3 the details of the scheme, such as the number of beneficiaries, the number of connections provided, the amount payable for availing it and whether the deposits were refundable.
The direction was issued on a public interest litigation petition which claimed the scheme discriminates between the poor and the rich farmers and enables grant of free electricity connection to those who could pay lump sum amount, whereas poor farmers had to wait as long as seven years to get the service.
Denying the charge, the A-G submitted that the scheme was just like the Tatkal scheme implemented for booking railway tickets and obtaining passports. It provides for collection of additional revenue for Tangedco by charging a lump sum amount from farmers to get the connection on a priority basis.
Those who wished to utilise the scheme had to pay ₹ 2.5 lakh for a 5-HP motor connection, ₹2.75 lakh for 7.5 HP motor and ₹ 3 lakh for 10 HP motor. Free power was given even to operate a 15-HP motor on payment of ₹ 4 lakh. Many farmers had benefitted from the scheme and opted for it voluntarily, he said.
Intervening during the arguments, Ms. Justice Sumanth said: “By creation of a faststrack method, you should not be delaying movement of those regular waiting list.”
Mr. Justice Kothari wanted the A-G to apprise the court as to how much Tangedco had earned through the scheme and how it utilised the revenue.
