KARACHI: The Sindh High Court was informed that the power bills of all bar associations of the province were being paid by the energy department of the Sindh government.

However, the finance department contended that there was no policy/direction available for payment of electricity bills of bar associations.

The information was furnished during the hearing of a petition filed by the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) against disconnection of electric supply by the K-Electric in May 2019 on the pretext of non-payment of bills.

The petitioner’s lawyer asked a two-judge bench headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi that in the light of the report the energy department might be directed to make payment of electricity bills of the KBA.

However, a government law officer sought time to seek instruction from the provincial authorities in this regard.

The petitioner’s counsel contended that the KE had sent a letter to the KBA in 2014 for settlement of outstanding dues, but the electricity bills in question had never been the liability of KBA, but directly settled by law and works department or district judge (south).

Finance secretary suggests bars may install separate electricity meters, pay their bills from own resources

On previous hearings, the SHC had directed the registrar as well as the provincial authorities concerned to file their reports about the subject matter.

At the outset of the hearing, SHC registrar Abdul Razzaq filed a compliance report stating that he had called reports from additional registrars of the SHC Sukkur bench and Hyderabad and Larkana circuit courts as well as from all the district judges of the province apart from district courts located at city courts about payment of power bills of bar association in Sindh.

The counsel for the petitioner informed the bench that as per the report of registrar, all power bills of the bar associations across the province were being paid by the energy department and sought directive for it to make payments.

Adjourning the hearing till March 16, the bench in its order stated, “Let specific instructions may be sought from Secretary, Energy Department Government of Sindh, in the light of report submitted by Registrar High Court Sindh. It is, however, expected that in view of the fact that all electricity bills of all Bar Associations in the Province of Sindh are being paid by Energy Department Government of Sindh, hence the petitioner/Karachi Bar Association shall not be discriminated”.

The finance secretary in his reply submitted that the provincial government had been providing funds in the annual budget for payment of power bills of the SHC and its circuit benches as well as subordinate judiciary of Sindh and payments to power utilities were being made through energy department.

About the electricity bills of the SHC Bar Association and Sindh Bar Council, he maintained that since both were located in the same building housing the SHC, they were getting the facility of power on the cost of budgetary allocation of SHC through trickledown effect.

However, the secretary further maintained, “There is no policy/direction available for payment of electricity bills of bar associations. The Finance Department, Government of Sindh, has suggested that all such associations may install separate electric meters and pay their electricity bill to the electricity company from the resources of associations”.

The finance department in its comments also said that it had allocated funds amounting Rs25 million each during last and current financial years and placed at the disposal of law department for disbursement to various bar associations.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2023