The division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry was hearing a petition on the relocation of overhead power lines passing over houses in various municipalities in the state.Expressing displeasure over “static” figures and repeated affidavits in a nine-year-old case on the removal of high-tension electricity lines from inhabited areas, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday directed the Haryana government to file a fresh, updated status report within three weeks.The division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry was hearing a petition on the relocation of overhead power lines passing over houses in various municipalities in the state. The issue has been before the court since 2016, triggered by a case in which a boy lost both arms after coming in contact with a live wire.During the hearing, amicus curiae, Anil Malhotra, pointed out that the affidavits filed in 2025 by the state’s two power distribution companies — Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam — contained exactly the same figures as those submitted in 2022.In both years, the status for 33 kV lines remained “90 identified, 58 shifted, 32 pending”. “What they are doing in 2025 is a replication of what they did in 2022… there is nothing new,” Malhotra submitted, adding that the data on 11 kV lines was also missing.The bench observed that despite “very tough orders” over the years, there had been no real progress and that the authorities were merely “passing on the buck” to one another.The court was told that the director, urban local bodies (ULBs), had reported 74,232 structures lying under power lines in 60 municipalities of Haryana. While the electricity boards said it was the responsibility of municipal bodies to remove illegal constructions, the ULBs argued that the power companies should not have given connections without checking approved building plans.“You are part of the same government. You have to sit together. This blame game has to stop,” Chief Justice Nagu remarked.Story continues below this adThe bench noted that a state policy decision had been taken as far back as 2016 to relocate all 33 kV and above lines without charging the cost to colonies, with funds to be allocated by the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC). However, HERC’s counsel said its role was limited to approving tariffs and funds on applications submitted by the power utilities — it did not itself undertake line relocation.Directing the additional chief secretary (power) to file a comprehensive affidavit with the current status of shifting and relocation, the bench said future policy should ensure that no electricity connection is issued unless the building plan is sanctioned and construction is outside the danger zone of power lines.The matter will now be heard after three weeks.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Haryana