The government at the Centre should have given the required go-ahead for electricity connection to a Pakistani Hindu migrant camp in Delhi as “Diwali gift”, a bench of Delhi High Court said on Monday (10 October).

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an activist on behalf of inhabitants of a refugee camp in Adarsh Nagar near Majlis Park Metro Station in the capital city.

The activist, Hari Om, said in his petition that the refugees have been issued Aadhaar cards and long-term visas (LTVs) by the Indian government.

However, they are forced to live without electricity as authorities that would provide the connection are demanding proof of ownership of land.

The plea sought relief from the condition put forth by the electricity distributors — Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) — of a no objection certificate (NOC) from the land-owning agency on which the camp is situated.

The TPDDL, on the other hand, has maintained that an NOC is unquestioningly required as certain poles are needed to be installed.

The counsel for the TTPDL told the court in a previous hearing that the land belongs to the government of India/Defence Department/DMRC, and the TTDPL cannot provide electricity connection unless the agencies give an NOC.

In a previous hearing in September, the counsel representing the migrants argued that under Rule 9(1) of the Electricity (Rights of Consumer) Rules, 2020, proof of ownership is not required, and a person who is not the owner but is an occupant, can apply for an electricity connection.

In the same hearing, the court sought response from the Centre as to why NOC had not been issued to the migrants.

In the hearing on Monday, the counsel representing the Centre said that the issue was still being looked into and more time was needed to file the response.

To this, the bench said that the migrants “are your own people” and should have been given a Diwali gift in the form of an NOC.

The bench then listed the matter for further hearing on 10 November.

In 2018, Swarajya did a ground report about the camp and how the refugees were forced to live under harsh conditions because of lack of electricity.

The camp then housed around 600 Hindus, who had shifted from Pakistan five years earlier after facing religious persecution.

The residents said that a month ago, officials from Tata Power had come and disrupted the electricity supply and taken away the cables.

Nehrulal, pradhan of the refugee camp, told Swarajya that he had been running from pillar to post for legal electricity connection but met with no luck in all these years.