New Delhi, April 04: The Supreme Court on Thursday permitted the Jharkhand government to cut power supply along Ram Navami procession routes to prevent electrocution risks posed by people carrying long poles and flags.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan modified an earlier Jharkhand High Court order that had barred festival-related power cuts. The Supreme Court ruled that power outages should be limited to procession routes and must not affect hospitals.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Jharkhand, told the court that festival-specific power cuts had been implemented in the state for over 20 years to prevent accidents.
The Jharkhand High Court had earlier taken suo moto cognizance of power outages during festivals and had directed Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) to avoid prolonged shutdowns except in emergencies such as extreme weather.
The High Court also noted that power cuts of five to ten hours during festivals like Sarhul adversely impacted senior citizens, patients, students, pregnant women, and businesses. “Electricity supply is an essential service in today’s world,” it said.
Additionally, the High Court ordered state authorities to impose a height limit on poles and flags used in processions to prevent contact with electrical wires. The state was directed to notify procession organizers and ensure compliance with the restrictions.
The Supreme Court further directed the Chief of JBVNL to submit an affidavit before the High Court, assuring that power cuts would be minimal and hospitals would not be affected. The High Court is set to hear the matter again on April 9.
