High Court stays implementation of new solar power regulations

KOCHI: The High Court stayed the implementation of new rules related to the consumption of renewable energy, including solar. Justice Mohammed Nias CP, stayed the further steps taken in the notification issued by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission on the 5th of this month. The court will examine the legal validity of this. The government, KSEB and the Regulatory Commission should submit counter-affidavits.

Petitions against the new policy, including those filed by the Domestic On-Grid Solar Power Prosumers Forum, are being considered.

The petition alleged that the new regulations were to hide the corruption of crores of rupees committed by commission members through purchase agreements with large private companies and demanded a CBI probe. When the petition was considered on the 3rd, the Regulatory Commission said that a public hearing would be held before issuing the notification and that a one-month delay would be required for this. However, the notification was issued within two days. The court, which said that a detailed hearing on the matter was required, stayed the implementation of the regulations. The petition was adjourned to December 1.