Telangana HC directs removal of unauthorised cables

Telangana High Court continues hearing on unsafe internet and cable wires following the Ramanthapur tragedy that killed five people. Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka clarified only unauthorised cables should be removed, while authorised installations remain untouched to ensure public safety

Hyderabad: Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka of the Telangana High Court on Monday continued hearing the issue of internet and cable wires strung across electricity poles in the city. The matter gained attention after the recent Ramanthapur tragedy, in which five people died when a live cable struck a Sri Krishnashtami procession.

During the hearing, officials informed the court that preliminary inquiries established that the accident was caused by cables fastened to electric poles. Following the incident, authorities began clearing such cables across GHMC limits.

---

The petitioner, Bharti Airtel, contended that officials were indiscriminately removing even cables installed with valid permissions, despite the company paying the requisite charges for pole usage.

Airtel argued that this amounted to arbitrary action, causing large-scale disruption of internet services. Counsel for TGSPDCL maintained that operators should submit details of poles for which permission had been granted to distinguish authorised connections from unauthorised ones.

After hearing submissions, Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka clarified that only cables laid without due permission are liable to be removed. The court said authorised installations must not be disturbed, while unauthorised ones should be cleared in the interest of public safety.