The Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority on 12th February, 2021, has issued the Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (Conduct of Business) Regulations, 2021. The Authority may initiate any proceeding suo moto or on a petition filed by a petitioner, applicant or an affected person. The Authority may, if it considers it to be appropriate, issue orders for issue of public notice inviting comments from affected persons on the issues involved in the proceedings in such form as the Authority may direct. The procedure for proceedings shall be the following:
- Each person to whom the notice of any petition or proceedings is issued (hereinafter called the Respondent), shall file the reply and the documents relied upon within the stipulated period and in such number of copies (including electronic copies) as may be directed by the Authority.
- In the reply filed, the Respondent shall specifically admit, deny or explain the facts stated in the petition and may also state such additional facts as he considers necessary for just decision of the case.
- The reply shall be signed and verified and supported by affidavit in the same manner as in the case of the petition. The Respondent shall, before filing the reply, serve a copy of the reply along with the documents duly attested to be true copies, on the Petitioner or his authorized representative and file proof of such service with the office of the Authority at the time of filing the reply.
- Where the Respondent states additional facts, the Authority may allow the Petitioner to file a rejoinder to the reply filed by the Respondent. The procedure mentioned above for filing of the reply shall apply mutatis mutandis to the filing of the rejoinder.
- Any affected person (other than the persons to whom notices, processes, etc. have been issued calling for reply) who intends to file a response in regard to a matter pending before the Authority, pursuant to the public notice issued for the purpose shall deliver to the Receiving Officer the response with copies of the documents and evidence in support thereof within the time fixed for the purpose.
- The Authority may permit any such affected person who responds to a public notice as it may consider to be appropriate to participate in the proceedings before the Authority.
- Unless permitted by the Authority, a person filing a response pursuant to the public notice shall not be entitled to participate in the proceedings. However, the Authority shall take into account the response filed by such person after giving an opportunity to the petitioner and the respondents in the proceeding to deal with such response.
- The response shall be supported by an affidavit as is the case of petitions in the manner and form specified in these Regulations, and shall be accompanied by such fees as the Authority may fix.
