ABU DHABI // Families living in an illegally divided villa have had their electricity switched back on after a court ruled that authorities did not gain the required permission first.
Despite both bachelors and families living in a villa that had received eviction warnings from Abu Dhabi Municipality, one of the residents sued the municipality and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea) when they were cut off.
The civil court today ruled that the municipality had no right to take the measure without first having a court decide that the families should be evicted.
The resident successfully argued that authorities had no right to cut off the electricity when the villa housed families and children.
The municipality and Adwea said the court was not in a position to deal with an administrative decision made by them, however, the court overruled the authorities.
Article 3/8 from law 1 for 2011 states: "The court can rule to remove the reasons behind a violation on the expense of the violator..."
hdajani@thenational.ae
