Archive · 14 Aug 2025
High Court Dismisses Smart Meter Mandate Petition
A court in Karnataka has decided against a complaint about new electricity meters.
Some people didn't want to have "smart meters" installed, but the court said no to their complaint.
The court pointed out that the government said they won't make everyone change their meters right away.
Another bigger legal case about this is happening, so the court decided not to make a separate decision.
This means that while smart meters are still planned, you don't have to get one right now.
Karnataka High Court dismissed a petition challenging Bescom's smart meter mandate.
The petition was filed by Jayalakshmi and P.M. Harish.
The court noted the Advocate General's assurance against forced replacement of old meters.
A similar Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is pending before a divisional bench.
The ruling means compulsory smart meter installation on existing consumers is not sanctioned at this stage.
- Who
- The case involved Jayalakshmi and P.M. Harish against Bescom.
- What
- The Karnataka High Court dismissed a petition against the compulsory installation of smart meters by Bescom.
- When
- The final order was delivered recently.
- Where
- Karnataka High Court in Bengaluru.
- Why
- The court dismissed the petition because a similar issue is already addressed in an ongoing Public Interest Litigation.
Petitioners' Concerns
Bescom and Court's Position
Smart Meter Installation
Petitioners' Concerns
Concern over the compulsory installation of smart meters.
Bescom and Court's Position
The ruling allows Bescom to continue its plans to install smart meters, but with no immediate forced replacement of existing ones.
- Court
- Karnataka High Court
- Plaintiff
- Jayalakshmi and P.M. Harish
- Defendant
- Bescom
- Judge
- Justice M. Nagaprasanna
- Case Outcome
- Petition dismissed