The Managing Director of Bengaluru Electricity Supply Corporation (BESCOM) has been sternly warned by a single-judge bench led by Justice NS Sanjay Gowda. This warning comes after BESCOM failed to accept electricity bill payments and various charges through online payment methods like UPI.
During a hearing on Friday, prompted by a writ petition filed by Seethalakshmi, a resident of Hoskote, the BESCOM lawyer requested additional time to provide a certificate regarding the implementation of online payment acceptance. Justice Gowda expressed dissatisfaction with this request and mandated that BESCOM’s Managing Director submit an affidavit by August 23 explaining the non-acceptance of online payments. Failure to comply will require the MD’s personal attendance at the next hearing.
The issue was brought to light as the petitioner, a senior citizen, faced difficulties in paying ₹16,000 due to mobility issues. The petitioner was instructed to use DD or RTGS for payment instead of online methods, raising concerns about accessibility and digital transaction adoption within utility services in Bengaluru.