Date:16/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/16/stories/2008111656621000.htm

National

Priority to pending cases: Karpaga Vinayagam

Legal Correspondent

Assumes office as tribunal chairperson

M. Karpaga Vinayakam

New Delhi: Justice M. Karpaga Vinayagam (62), who on Friday assumed office as chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity, New Delhi, said his priority would be to dispose of pending matters expeditiously.

Since it was set up in 2005, as many as 1,407 cases had been filed before the tribunal and 1,130 disposed of, he told The Hindu here.

It was set up under the Electricity Act of 2003 to hear appeals, review/revision/execution petitions, interim applications, etc, against the tariff and other orders of the 24 Regulatory/Joint Commissions, including the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.

“The jurisdiction of the tribunal extends to the whole of India, except Jammu and Kashmir. Further, the jurisdiction is extended to hear appeals arising from the order or decision of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board.” Appeal will lie in the Supreme Court against the tribunal orders.

“Rules cannot curb violence”

Asked about the violent incidents in the Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College in Chennai, Justice Karpaga Vinayagam said: “These things cannot be controlled by rules and regulations. I can only say that students should be more responsible and disciplined. Both parents and teachers have a greater role to play in preventing such incidents.”