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The Central Government has informed the Delhi High Court that Pakistani Hindu Migrants, seeking electricity connection at their camps in North Delhi are illegally encroaching on land belonging to the Defence Ministry, and therefore their plea seeking electricity connections deserves to be dismissed in-limine.

Stating that the migrants have encroached the Ministry's land and that their plea is misconceived, the Government further pointed out that it is also not the competent authority to provide electric connections or provide any assistance of any sort to migrants.

Earlier notice was issued to the Central Government by a bench led by Chief Justice DN Patel. The plea filed by one Hariom by Adv. Rohit Madan, claims that about 800 migrants have been living in Delhi without electricity from many years, and have received no aid from any quarter despite approaching authorities several times. 

"They all have been suffering Delhi's extreme weather conditions and current pandemic without electricity and without any help from the Government Authority," the plea stated.

Replying on the plea the Centre informed Court that it had accorded sanction for transfer of land measuring 70.253 acres to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and has been consistently following up the matter of removal of unauthorized occupation/ encroachment on defence land with the concerned District Administration and police administration.

The Petitioner claimed that the migrants had also approached the concerned power distribution company i.e., Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) and presented their Visas/ Aadhar Cards, however, their applications were turned down as Aadhar Cards cannot be used as proof of occupancy of the premises.

The Petitioner thus also sought a direction to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission to include Long Term Visa (LTV)/ Passport as identity proof and Aadhar card as proof of occupancy under the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (Supply Code and Performance Standards) Regulations, 2017.

Cause Title: Hariom v. State (NCT  of Delhi)