HC raps advocate for energy theft

MADURAI: The Madurai bench of the Madras High court has rapped an advocate who adopted dilly-dallying tactics from paying electricity dues after the officials detected energy theft in his premises.
An advocate has filed a petition seeking to challenge an order of the assistant executive engineer of Trichy on April 25, this year. The petitioner describing himself as an advocate claimed that his family members are running a school in the western portion of the house, while he resided in the eastern portion.
During an inspection, a case of theft of energy by which unauthorised use of domestic service for commercial purpose was detected. The advocate was informed that the theft of energy was an offence and the loss was estimated around Rs 56,527. Hence, he preferred the petition against the order.
In the court proceedings, the petitioner himself volunteered to pay Rs 25,000 by way of a concession. He was given another opportunity to raise objections on the provisional assessment notice issued. Even after that order, the petitioner sent several letters threatening the officers describing himself as an advocate.
However, the electricity board directed him to pay the balance within seven working days. Again, he preferred a second writ petition.
Dismissing the petition, Justice K Chandru said it showed that the petitioner was having direct proprietorial interest in running of the nursery school.
“Having been caught red-handed, he also paid a preliminary amount for the restoration of service connection. After the provisional conclusion, instead of giving a proper reply, he indulged in delay tactics. It is not expected from a member of a legal fraternity,” the judge said.
“First of all, whether the petitioner can carry on a business or any avenues of employment as a practising lawyer, itself a doubtful proposition. This court is not concerned with the professional impropriety of the petitioner. Even assuming if he was a consumer, he is bound by the terms and conditions of the licensee. The service connection is yet to be transferred in his name and yet he was using domestic supply for commercial purposes. Though he had obtained a fresh opportunity by filing this case, this court does not find any illegality or irregularity in the proceedings initiated by the respondent board,” said the judge.
During an inspection, a case of theft of energy by which unauthorised use of domestic service for commercial purpose was detected. The loss was estimated to around 56,527.