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Delhi HC raps Delhi Discoms; asks them to fully Co-Operate

The Delhi High Court today hit out at the Delhi based power distributing companies for not fully co-operating with the audit agency CAG. Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) have reiterated that the power distributing companies are not co-operating with the audit directed by the erstwhile Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal. Arvind Kejriwal had given tariff discount of 50 Percent to the Delhi residents and accused dicoms of fudging accounts to burden residents with high tariff.

The three private discoms which operate out of Delhi are Tata Delhi distribution limited and Reliance Infra led BSES Yamuna & Rajdhani. Sources in the CAG have told CNBC-TV18, that it has written to the Delhi government and has requested the government to instruct the discoms to accelerate submission of records sought by the auditor.

Sources also suggest, the auditor has sought details on capital expenditure, asset utilisations, accounts, IT system, metering, and billing, collections from consumers, tariff and regulatory matters amongst other details. The CAG has made as many as 103 requisitions on 285 issues and has received only 26 requisitions so far. The CAG has also revealed that the Tata power led Delhi discom is yet to give authorisation for IT system access. Meanwhile, BSES has given partial access to 15 out of 45 transactions. The CAG has also expressed concern that in absence of complete records and information will lead to erroneous conclusion.

The Delhi High court had refused a stay on audit of discoms, but in an interim order given it had allowed the CAG to go ahead with the audit process. The audit body will make the final outcome public only after court’s direction.

Meanwhile, the discoms have been denying the allegation on not co-operating with the auditor with the process. The Reliance infra led BSES issued a statement that says “We are again surprised at the stand taken by CAG Counsel before the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, as the audit process is going on smoothly. We reiterate that BSES discoms are having cordial and regular meetings with the auditors and there is a continuous flow of information to them.” The Delhi high court has clubbed all the matter related to audit of discoms and will be hearing the matter on May 1.

Source-On Request