Lahore High Court Upholds Withdrawal of Free Electricity Units for Wapda Officers, Declares Policy Legal

The Lahore High Court (LHC) upheld a government decision to withdraw free electricity units for Grade-17 officers from the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) and power distribution companies, declaring it lawful. The court dismissed petitions filed by GEPCO Engineers and Officers Association challenging this move.

In his 14-page written verdict, LHC judge Malik Javed Iqbal Wain ruled that free electricity units were not a fundamental or legal right but a service-related facility. He endorsed the Ministry of Energy’s policy decision, noting it was within financial constraints and growing circular debt in the power sector.

The petitioners argued that a 2023 notification replaced free units with a fixed monetary allowance and claimed the benefit was part of their appointment terms. They also contended that employees from Grade-1 to Grade-16 were still receiving free units, making the withdrawal discriminatory.

However, the court found no evidence of mala fide intent, illegality, or constitutional violation in the policy. It noted that the benefit had not been entirely withdrawn but monetized and added to salaries.

The LHC dismissed petitions seeking restoration of free electricity units, reinforcing that such policy decisions fall within the government’s jurisdiction. The federal government welcomed the court decision, with Federal Minister for Power Division Awais Leghari stating it was a landmark step reflecting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership and commitment to reforms.