The Patan Appellate Court has paved the way for Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to charge fees for dedicated and trunk lines.
Ramesh Kumar Dahal on behalf of Raghupati Jute Mill and Arihant Multifiber, Pramesh Kumar Dahal of Arihant Multipolimax, and Everest Paper Mills, Shubhashree Agni Cement and United Cement had moved the court after the NEA wrote to them seeking fees for dedicated and trunk lines.
They had argued that the NEA cannot charge fees for dedicated and trunk lines as it had not signed contracts with them about that. The NEA, on the other hand, was contending that additional contract was not necessary after getting dedicated and trunk lines.
The Patan Appellate Court conducting the first hearing on the petition on May 3 had issued an interim order instructing the NEA to not implement the letters.
A joint bench of Justice Nagendra Shiwakoti and Justice Rajan Prasad Bhattarai after listening to arguments from both the sides on Sunday has revoked the interim order. The interim order will continue only for United Cement as hearing on that has yet to be done, according to registrar at the court Baburam Dahal.
Kul Man Ghising had written to the companies to pay fees for dedicated and trunk lines starting from August 2015 after he became NEA chief.
The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries, the Confederation of Nepalese Industries, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and others had opposed the NEA's decision and demanded removal of the fees.
