The Supreme Court on Tuesday wondered as to why in a period of economic boom, Delhi residents have to suffer darkness. It has asked the Delhi government and private power distributors to state within two weeks steps taken to control the large-scale loss of power due to theft.

Power distribution companies told a bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal and Justice B P Singh that there is no shortage of power. Besides, in the last eight months since power distribution was privatised, almost Rs 100 crore was spent on improving the infrastructure. But citizens have not been able to reap the benefits of uninterrupted supply due to an almost 50 per cent loss due to theft.

The bench was hearing an application by amicus curiae Ranjit Kumar seeking a direction from the court to the Delhi government to check the unabated theft of electricity depriving law-abiding citizens from getting adequate supply of power. He contended that despite statutory requirements, the Delhi government has not constituted various authorities required under the electricity laws to curb power related offences.