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HC pulls up Haryana over ‘static’ figures on shifting high-tension power lines, seeks fresh status report

Hearing a nine-year-old case on removing high-tension electricity lines, the Punjab and Haryana High Court said the authorities must work together and stop passing the buck.

3 min readChandigarhAug 12, 2025 01:24 PM IST

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The division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry was hearing a petition on the relocation of overhead power lines passing over houses in various municipalities in the state.

Expressing displeasure over “static” figures and repeated affidavits in a nine-year-old case on the removal of high-tension electricity lines from inhabited areas, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday directed the Haryana government to file a fresh, updated status report within three weeks.

The division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry was hearing a petition on the relocation of overhead power lines passing over houses in various municipalities in the state. The issue has been before the court since 2016, triggered by a case in which a boy lost both arms after coming in contact with a live wire.

During the hearing, amicus curiae, Anil Malhotra, pointed out that the affidavits filed in 2025 by the state’s two power distribution companies — Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam — contained exactly the same figures as those submitted in 2022.

In both years, the status for 33 kV lines remained “90 identified, 58 shifted, 32 pending”. “What they are doing in 2025 is a replication of what they did in 2022… there is nothing new,” Malhotra submitted, adding that the data on 11 kV lines was also missing.

The bench observed that despite “very tough orders” over the years, there had been no real progress and that the authorities were merely “passing on the buck” to one another.

The court was told that the director, urban local bodies (ULBs), had reported 74,232 structures lying under power lines in 60 municipalities of Haryana. While the electricity boards said it was the responsibility of municipal bodies to remove illegal constructions, the ULBs argued that the power companies should not have given connections without checking approved building plans.

“You are part of the same government. You have to sit together. This blame game has to stop,” Chief Justice Nagu remarked.

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The bench noted that a state policy decision had been taken as far back as 2016 to relocate all 33 kV and above lines without charging the cost to colonies, with funds to be allocated by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC). However, HERC’s counsel said its role was limited to approving tariffs and funds on applications submitted by the power utilities — it did not itself undertake line relocation.

Directing the additional chief secretary (power) to file a comprehensive affidavit with the current status of shifting and relocation, the bench said future policy should ensure that no electricity connection is issued unless the building plan is sanctioned and construction is outside the danger zone of power lines.

The matter will now be heard after three weeks.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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