Mangalore: High court orders dental college to pay penalty to Mescom
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Jan 3: In a setback to Manipal College of Dental Sciences and Hospital and Manipal School, the high court on Friday January 3 dismissed its appeal against Mescom's directive to pay penalty for using unauthorized electricity extension from KMC.
The matter had come to light after a raid operation by Mescom officials on December 9 Manipal College of Dental Sciences and Hospital and School, based on a complaint by RTI activist Haneef Saheb, who had alleged that the college had taken power supply illegally. After a day-long procedure, the officials had found that the college had taken unauthorized electricity extension from KMC but had been paying electricity bills regularly. A fine of Rs 3.40 crore was imposed.
The college had then moved the high court and appealed against the penalty. It had also alleged that Mescom had cut electricity supply during the raid, thus putting the hospital in problems.
Advocate B S Patil who was the counsel for Mescom said that under section 126(3) of the Electricity Act, the electricity load sanctioned may be maintained, but the excess load should be disconnected.
At the time of the raid, SP of Mescom vigilance department Harishchandra had said that as per records, the college had started in the year 2006 and the school in the year 2010, and since then, the violations had been taking place, and the additional electricity supply had been misused by KMC.