CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the State government to come out with a policy on power conservation immediately. The policy should give broad guidelines on the steps that needed to be taken by households for conserving electricity and minimising wastage. Disposing off a writ petition filed by a resident of Pudupet, seeking a direction to the State government asking it to deny permission for conduct of functions that consumed electricity for glittering illumination, the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice A.K. Ganguly and Justice F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla, said if there was a policy to conserve power it should be strictly followed. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board was also directed to give wide publicity to the policy by giving paper publications of such policy within four weeks and ensure that the policy is strictly adhered to. The policy, the judges said, should contain penal provisions for not following the guidelines and should also provide for disconnection of power supply in respect of commercial concerns that do not follow the guidelines. As regards public meetings, they said instructions should be given in the policy, which should be strictly enforced.