SC stays Jharkhand HC order on festival power cuts, calls for safety measures

IANS April 4, 2025 152 views

The Supreme Court has stepped in to regulate Jharkhand's practice of extended power cuts during religious festivals. By limiting power suspensions to specific procession routes and minimizing duration, the court aims to balance safety concerns with public convenience. The ruling mandates protection of essential services like hospitals during such periods. The JBVNL must now submit an undertaking ensuring compliance with these new guidelines, with the next hearing scheduled for April 8.

"Power cuts should be restricted only to procession routes" - Supreme Court Bench
New Delhi/Ranchi, April 4: The Supreme Court has stayed the Jharkhand High Court order barring power cuts during Ram Navami and other festivals, after the state government challenged the ruling in the top court.

Key Points

1

Supreme Court intervenes in Jharkhand's festival power cut policy

2

Electrocution risks addressed through targeted power suspension

3

Essential services protection mandated during festival periods

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JBVNL must submit compliance undertaking

The Jharkhand government had argued that temporary power cuts were a necessary safety measure, as long flags carried during processions posed a risk of electric shocks. The Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) has been routinely suspending power supply for several hours on festival days to prevent accidents.

The issue gained attention after a five-to-ten-hour power outage in Ranchi during the Sarhul festival on April 1.

A Jharkhand High Court bench of Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Justice Deepak Roshan took suo motu cognisance of the issue on April 3 and stayed the government’s practice, questioning the lack of alternative safety measures and the hardships caused to residents.

It expressed concern about the effects of the outages on local businesses, which faced forced closures and revenue losses. Such disruptions, the High Court said not only cause inconvenience to the residents but also pose safety risks. The High Court had ordered the JBVNL not to undertake long power cuts unless absolutely necessary.

On Friday, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar, and Justice K.V. Viswanathan heard the state government’s plea.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Jharkhand government, argued that past electrocution incidents during Ram Navami and other religious processions justified these precautionary power cuts.

After hearing the arguments, the Supreme Court ruled that power cuts should be restricted only to procession routes and kept to a minimum duration during festivals.

The top court said that essential services, including hospitals, must not be affected by the power cuts.

The Managing Director of the JBVNL must submit an undertaking ensuring compliance with these directives, the apex court said.

The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for April 8.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Finally some common sense prevails! Safety should always come first during crowded festivals. Those long flags touching power lines is a real danger - I've seen it happen in my neighborhood. 👏
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Priya M.
I understand the safety concerns but 10-hour power cuts are extreme. The SC's balanced approach makes sense - limit cuts to procession routes and protect essential services. Hope they enforce this properly!
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Sanjay T.
Respectfully disagree with the SC here. The High Court was right to question why after all these years, the government hasn't found better safety solutions than just cutting power. Underground cabling? Insulated lines? There are options.
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Ananya R.
My shop was closed for Sarhul due to the blackout. Lost a whole day's income. The SC's decision to protect businesses while ensuring safety is a relief. Maybe now we can celebrate festivals without economic pain 🙏
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Vikram J.
Good middle path by SC. But implementation will be key - hope JBVNL actually follows through with the limited cuts. Last time our whole sector went dark when only main road needed it.
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Neha P.
As someone who works in a hospital, I'm so relieved essential services are protected now. Last festival our generators barely coped. Safety for processions shouldn't mean risking patients' lives elsewhere.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Supreme Court Jharkhand Power Cuts Ram Navami Festival Safety Electricity Board
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