Kerala High Court criticises KSEB

KOCHI: Kerala High Court on Wednesday criticised the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for ‘double standards’ in a power theft case.

Justice V.K. Mohanan suo motu impleaded board secretary and directed him to explain the KSEB’s stand regarding compounding of offence in which one year imprisonment and Rs 29 lakh fine was ordered.

The observation was made while considering an appeal by Stanley A. Antony of Mukundapuram, who was convicted and sentenced by Additional Sessions Court, Kollam, to undergo one year RI and a fine of Rs 29 lakh.

The case against him was that he had caused a theft of electricity of Rs 9.6 lakh on Feb 1, 2006 when power supply was given to Vembanad lake resort.

When compounding petition came up for consideration, Assistant Engineer in the office of standing counsel of KSEB and legal advisor for KSEB took different and inconsistent stands against compounding of offence.

While the official took a view that a lenient stand may lead to unnecessary practice thereafter, the legal adviser said there was no legal impediment in compounding the offence.

The court said officials of KSEB failed to take specific and definite stand on the issue.