The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed against the decision of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) of exempting the consumers from getting installation certificate-cum-test report from Low Pressure Internal Houseline Contractors, observing that writ cannot be issued against the convenience of public at large. On August 29, 2011, the SNGPL had decided on the recommendations of National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources that in future no installation test report shall be required to be submitted by the consumers for new connections from any registered low pressure internal houseline contractor.
A single-member bench comprising Justice Anwar Khan Kasi was hearing the case filed by some low pressure internal houseline contractors in which the petitioners, through their counsel, submitted before the court that they were approved enlisted contractors of SNGPL and were regularly paying renewal fee of Rs 5,000 per annum along with other dues and the decision to waiving off the condition of providing the installation certificate from any registered low pressure internal house line contractors.
The petitioners Muhammad Aslam and others cited secretary petroleum and natural resources, managing director SNGPL and general manager retails and sales as respondents. In their petition, the petitioners stated that the job of low pressure approved contractors for internal houseline was that whenever a consumer needs a new gas connection, he submits application directly to the SNGPL and after issuance of demand notice, the consumer directly approaches the approved gas contractor of his area, who after thorough check up of gas lines on leakages installs a new gas pipeline for the new connection and it was the responsibility of the contractor to issue test report.
However, the court remarked that the said decision was taken on the recommendations of the NA standing committee which is a body of public representatives, adding the SNGPL only waived the condition of provision of installation certificate while the undertaking by the applicant will remain there to confirm that the material has been used as per specifications and the house line is leak proof. The court told that the consumers had also been directed that they should get the house line fitting through approved contractors of the SNGPL according to specific procedure.
The court observed further that the decision was taken just to provide relief to the general public for getting gas connections and this act, in the court’s view, in no way creates any right to the petitioners and so no question arises of violation of any fundamental right of the petitioners.
IHC dismisses plea against SNGPL
