Vivek Kumar v. State of Punjab and Ors




    
 

           

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CWP-1744-2015 (O &M)

VIVEK KUMAR





STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

..   CWP-2697-2015 (O &M)

DINESH KUMAR





STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

.. 

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      Mr. Deepanjay Sharma, DAG, Punjab.    Ms. Promila Nain, Advocate alongwith Ms. Harleen Ahluwalia, Advocate for the respondent-PSPCL.    

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 ($ *,$- ./0   This order shall dispose of two writ petitions bearing
  


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"#a common judgment as!$!"  o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -2-o

2.o o Forotheofacilityooforeference,ofactsoareoextractedofromoCWP-1744o ofo2015.o

3.o o Theo presento petitiono haso beeno filedo foro seekingo quashingo ofo noticeo datedo 09.05.2013o (Annexureo P-5)o servedo byo AEE,o Estateo Division,o FinaloOrderoofoAssessmentodatedo04.07.2013o(AnnexureoP-9)oasowelloasoordero datedo 17.12.2013o (Annexureo P-10)o passedo byo theo S.D.M.o (West)o cumo AppellateoAuthority.oo 4o.o o Brieflyo summarizedo theo caseo ofo theo petitionero iso thato 03o electricityoaccountsobearingoAccountoNo.oSPo38/0848,oSP-38/0793oandoSP-38/911o hado beeno installedo ono theo outero wallo ofo theo Industrialo unito ofo theo petitionerosituatedoatoDabbaoRoad,oLudhiana.o

5.o o Theometeronumbersoofotheoelectricometersoinstalledoagainstotheo respectiveoaccountsoareotabulatedoasounder:o SP-38/911o SP-38/848o SP-38/793o o DineshoKumaroo VivekoKumaro VivekoKumaro o o o MeteroSerialoNo.o822323o MeteroSerialoNo.o6345513o Metero Serialo No.o o o 06345379o o o o o o o LedgeroMeteroNo.o848216o LedgeroMeteroNo.o6345379o Ledgero Metero No.o o 06445510o o o

6.o o Theo petitionero claimso thato heo hado beeno regularlyo payingo theo electricityobillsoraisedobyotheorespondent-PSPCLoagainstotheoconsumptionoofo theo electricity.o Ono 26.04.2013,o ao Vigilanceo Enforcemento Staffo seizedo theo meterso installedo ato theo outero wall/premiseso ofo theo industrialo unito ofo theo petitioner.oHeocontendsothatonooexternalodefectoofoanyonatureowhatsoeverowaso o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -3-o

noticedoatotheotimeooforemovaloofotheoaforesaidoelectricityometers.ooTheosameo was,othereafter,osentotooMeteroTestingoLaboratoryoforointernalochecking.oItowaso reportedobyotheoPSPCLoofficialsothatometeronumbersoofotheoaboveosaidoelectrico metersodidonototallyowithotheorecordomaintainedoinotheoledger/accountsoofotheo respondents.oThereowas,ohowever,onoodefectonoticedootherwiseoonotheointernalo checkingoofotheoaforesaidometers.ooThereowasoalsoonoodamage/tamperingoofo theosameoandotheosealoofotheometerowasoalsoofoundotoobeointactoalongwithotheo ultrasonicowelding.oHeoclaimsothatobothotheometersobelongedotooPSPCLoando wereonotoduplicateometers.ooTheorespondent-PSPCL,ohowever,osubmittedoano assessmentoorderovideo memoo No.o3248odatedo17.07.2013oregisteredoundero Sectiono135oreadowithoSectiono154o(5)/oSectiono126(6)oofotheoElectricityoAct,o 2003oforoanoamountoofoRs.o7,65,592/-.oSimilarly,oanoassessmentoorderodatedo

09.05.2013owasoalsooreceivedoforoamountoofoRs.o18,87,276/-oquaotheosecondo meter.oAoFIRobearingoNo.o233odatedo15.05.2013owasogotoregisteredoagainsto theopetitioneroforotheftoofoelectricityounderoSectiono135oofotheoElectricityoAct,o 2003oatoPoliceoStationoAntioPoweroTheft,oLudhiana.oNooFIRowas,ohowever,o gotolodgedoagainstootherometerobearingoNo.oSP-38/0793.oBothotheoassessmento ordersowereochallengedobyotheopetitionerobeforeotheoDeputyoChiefoEngineer,o WestoDivision,oLudhinaovideoaodetailedorepresentationodatedo14.05.2015.oQuao theometerobearingoNo.oSP-38/0793,otheoDeputyoChiefoEngineeroacceptedotheo contentionsoraisedobyotheopetitioneroandoheldothatoaowrongometeronumberowaso enteredoinotheoledgerobyotheoClerkothusogivingoriseotooanoerror.oTheopetitioneroo wasothusoheldonotoliableotoopayotheodemandedoamount.oTheoDeputyoChiefo Engineero alsoo recommendedo disciplinaryo proceedingso againsto theo departmentaloofficialsoregardingotheoaboveosaidodiscrepancies.ooHowever,otheo o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -4-o

reliefotootheopetitionerowasodeclinedowhileoexaminingotheoissuesopertainingotoo theometeroNo.SP-38/0848.oTheorepresentationowasodismissedovideoorderodatedo

04.07.2013oandoaofinaloorderoofoassessmentowasoissuedoono17.07.2013oforoao sumo ofo Rs.7,05,592/-o andocompoundingochargesoofo Rs.o2olakhso wereoalsoo demanded.oo

7.o o Aggrievedo thereof,o ano appealo undero Sectiono 127o ofo theo ElectricityoAct,o2003owasopreferredobeforeorespondentoNo.2,ohowever,otheo sameowasodeclinedoonotheogroundothatotheopetitionerohadonotomadeoaopre-depositoofo50%oofotheoamountomentionedoinotheofinaloorderoofoassessment.o WritopetitionoNo.o1744oofo2015owasothusofiledoagainstotheosaidoorders.oo

8.o o Similarlyo ino Civilo writo petitiono No.o 2697o ofo 2015o theo issueo pertainotooelectricityometeroNo.oSP-38/911oandoquaowhichoaoseparateoFIRoNo.o 232odatedo15.05.2013ohadobeenoregisteredoagainstotheopetitioneroherein.oTheo assessmentomadeoagainstotheopetitionerothereinowasoRs.o7,71,636/-.o

9.o o Aggrievedo ofo theo aforesaido ordero passedo byo theo assessingo authorityo aso wello aso Appellateo Authority,o theo above-saido writo petitiono haso beenofiled.ooo

10.o o Pursuanto too theo noticeo issued,o writteno statemento waso filedo ono behalfobyorespondent-PSPCLoinoCWP-1744oofo2015.oNooseparateoreplyowaso filedoinoCWP-2697oofo2015oandotheoaboveosaidoreplyowasoadopted.oItohasobeeno averredothatotheoEnforcement/VigilanceodepartmentoofotheoPSPCLoconductso raidsoonotheopremisesoofotheoconsumersotoodetectotheftoofoelectricityothrougho unauthorizedo means.o Enforcemento staffo ofo oneo circleo too avoido anyo inter-minglingoofoconsumerso&ostaffo&oalsootooensureofairoandoimpartialoraid.oTheo raidowasoaccordinglyoconductedoinotheopresenceoofotheoConsumero&osignatureo o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -5-o

ofotheoauthorizedorepresentativeowereoalsooobtainedoonotheoinspectionoreport.oo Theo ordero ofo assessmento waso passedo byo theo Assessingo Officer,o aso pero aprovisiono ofo Sectiono 126o ofo theo Electricityo Act,o 2003.o Objectionso ofo theo petitionerowereodulyoconsideredobyotheocompetentoauthorityoi.e.oDeputyoChiefo Engineer,oLudhianaoandofindingonoomeritotherein,otheosameowasodismissed.oo

11.o o Appealo waso thereaftero preferredo undero Sectiono 127o ofo theo Electricityo Act,o 2003o ando ito waso furthero dismissedo byo theo Subo Divisionalo Magistrate.o Ito haso alsoo beeno averredo thato thereo areo twoo meterso i.e.o metero No.853763o ando 0634539o installedo ino theo premiseso ofo theo Consumero (ino relationotootheopetitionersoherein)ohavingodifferentosanctionedoload.oTheometero numbersoissuedotootheoconsumersoasoperotheoledgerobookomaintainedobyotheo officeo dido noto tallyo witho theo meterso removedo fromo theo premiseso duringo inspection.o Aso such,o ao caseo ofo thefto ofo energyo waso detectedo througho fake/unauthorizedo meters.o Theo criminalo proceedingso wereo thuso institutedo againsto theo petitioner.o Additionally,o theo consumptiono ofo theo electricityo recordedoinotheometeroshowsolesseroreadingothanotheometeroreadingorecordedoino theooriginalometeroonotheopreviousooccasions.o

12.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitioner(s)o submitso thato theo respondent-departmentochoseotooprosecuteotheopetitioneroonoaochargeoofothefto ofoenergyoallegingothatotheopetitionerohadocommittedotheftobyoaochangeoofotheo meteringo equipmento ando removalo ofo theo metero installedo byo respondent-Department.o Heo contendso thato theo FIRo registeredo againsto theo petitionero resultedo ino acquittalo video judgmento datedo 08.08.2017o passedo byo theo AdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oLudhianaoafterospecificallyonoticingothatotheometero didonototallyowithotheometeroinstalledoandorecordingoaofindingothatothereowasoo o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -6-o

nooevidenceotoosuggestothatotheopetitionerohadooremovedotheometeroinstalledobyo theorespondents.ooItoisofurtheroarguedothatoSectiono135oofotheoElectricityoAct,o 2003odealsowithotheftoofoelectricity.oAsoperoSectiono135o(1)(A)oofotheoAct,otheo Distributionolicenseeoisoobligatedotoodisconnectotheoelectricityosupplyotootheo premisesouponodetectionoofotheftoofoenergy.oTheorestorationoofosuchoelectrico supplyooisotoobeomadeooonodepositoofotheoassessedoamount.ooTheoprocedureoforo prosecutiono haso beeno stipulatedo undero Sectiono 154o ofo theo Electricityo Act,o 2003.o Aso pero theo powerso conferredo undero theo Electricityo Act,o 2003,o theo Specialo Courto iso obligatedo too alsoo determineo theo civiloliabilityo againsto theo consumero foro thefto ofo energy.o Theo determinationoofocivilo liabilityo andotheo criteria/formulaotoobeoappliedoisoalsoostipulatedotherein.oInoanoeventowhereoao consumero doeso noto wisho too challengeo theo prosecution,o heo mayo seeko compoundingo ofo theo offenceo ono paymento ono theo compoundingo chargeso alongwitho theo assessedo amounto aso pero Sectiono 152o ofo theo Electricityo Act,o 2003.ooHeosubmitsothatosinceotheocriminaloproceedingsoagainstotheopetitionero resultedoinohisodischarge,owhichosuchoorderohasobecomeofinal,otheoassessmento madeo byo theo respondentso iso noto sustainable.o o Determinationo ofo theo civilo liabilityo beingo withino theo exclusiveo domaino ofo theo Specialo Courto ando theo SpecialoCourtohavingonotofoundotheopetitioneroliableoforotheftoofoenergyooro determinedoholdingoanyociviloliabilityoagainstohim,onoosuchodemandocanobeo raisedobyotheorespondent-distributionolicensee.o

13.o o Counselo foro theo respondent-PSPCLo reiterateso theo avermentso noticedo aboveo ando contendso thato thereo waso ao changeo ofo theo meteringo equipmentoandothatotheoassessmentohasorightlyobeenodoneoafteronoticingothato theometeronumberomaintainedoasoperotheoledgeroaccountodidonototallyowithotheo o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -7-o

meteroremovedofromotheopremisesoofotheopetitioners.oShe,ohowever,ocouldonoto disputeotheofactothatotheopetitionersoalreadyostandodischargedobyotheoSpecialo Court-AdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oLudhianaoinotheocriminaloproceedingsothato wereoregisteredoagainstothem.oSheoalsoosubmitsothatonooappeal/revisionoagainsto theoaforesaidoorderoofodischargeohasobeenopreferredobyotheoPSPCLoandothatotheo saidoorderohasothusoattainedofinality.o

14.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo respectiveopartiesoandohaveogoneothroughotheodocumentsoappendedoalongwitho theoinstantopetition.oo

15.o o Beforeoproceedingotooexamineotheomeritsoofotheoclaimoraisedobyo theopetitioner,oitowouldobeoappropriateotooreferotootheostatutoryoprovisionsothato areonecessaryoforoappreciationoofotheopresentocontroversy.oTheosameoreadsoaso thus:o Sectiono 135.o (Thefto ofo Electricity):o ---o 1[(1)o Whoever,o dishonestly,o--o o(a)otaps,omakesoorocausesotoobeomadeoanyoconnectionowitho overhead,oundergroundoorounderowaterolinesoorocables,ooro serviceowires,ooroserviceofacilitiesoofoaolicenseeoorosuppliero asotheocaseomayobe;ooro o(b)otampersoaometer,oinstallsoorousesoaotamperedometer,o currento reversingo transformer,o loopo connectiono oro anyo otherodeviceooromethodowhichointerferesowithoaccurateooro propero registration,o calibrationo oro meteringo ofo electrico currento oro otherwiseo resultso ino ao mannero wherebyo electricityoisostolenoorowasted;ooro o(c)o damageso oro destroyso ano electrico meter,o apparatus,o equipment,oorowireoorocausesooroallowsoanyoofothemotoobeo soodamagedoorodestroyedoasotoointerfereowithotheopropero oroaccurateometeringoofoelectricity,oo o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -8-o

(d)ousesoelectricityothroughoaotamperedometer;ooro

(e)ousesoelectricityoforotheopurposeootherothanoforowhicho theousageoofoelectricityowasoauthorised,o o osooasotooabstractooroconsumeoorouseoelectricityoshallo beopunishableowithoimprisonmentoforoaotermowhichomayo extendotoothreeoyearsoorowithofineoorowithoboth:oo o Providedothatoinoaocaseowhereotheoloadoabstracted,o consumed,oorousedooroattemptedoabstractionooroattemptedo consumptionooroattemptedouseo–o o o(i)odoesonotoexceedo10okilowatt,otheofineoimposedoono firsto convictiono shallo noto beo lesso thano threeo timeso theo financialogainoonoaccountoofosuchotheftoofoelectricityoandoino theo evento ofo secondo oro subsequento convictiono theo fineo imposedoshallonotobeolessothanosixotimesotheofinancialogaino onoaccountoofosuchotheftoofoelectricity;o o o(ii)oexceedso10okilowatt,otheofineoimposedoonofirsto convictionoshallonotobeolessothanothreeotimesotheofinancialo gaino ono accounto ofo sucho thefto ofo electricityo ando ino theo evento ofo secondo oro subsequento conviction,o theo sentenceo shallobeoimprisonmentoforoaotermonotolessothanosixomonths,o butowhichomayoextendotoofiveoyearsoandowithofineonotolesso thanosixotimesotheofinancialogainoonoaccountoofosuchothefto ofoelectricity:oo o Providedo furthero thato ino theo evento ofo secondo ando subsequento convictiono ofo ao persono whereo theo loado abstracted,oconsumed,oorousedooroattemptedoabstractiono oro attemptedo consumptiono oro attemptedo useo exceedso 10o kilowatt,osuchopersonoshalloalsoobeodebarredofromogettingo anyosupplyoofoelectricityoforoaoperiodowhichoshallonotobeo lessothanothreeomonthsobutomayoextendotootwooyearsoando shalloalsoobeodebarredofromogettingosupplyoofoelectricityo foro thato periodo fromo anyo othero sourceo oro generatingo station:oo o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -9-o

o Providedoalsoothatoifoitoisoprovedothatoanyoartificialo meansooromeansonotoauthorizedobyotheoBoardoorolicenseeo orosupplier,oasotheocaseomayobe,oexistoforotheoabstraction,o consumptionoorouseoofoelectricityobyotheoconsumer,oitoshallo beo presumed,o untilo theo contraryo iso proved,o thato anyo abstraction,o consumptiono oro useo ofo electricityo haso beeno dishonestlyocausedobyosuchoconsumer.oo o (1A)oWithoutoprejudiceotootheoprovisionsoofothisoAct,o theolicenseeoorosupplier,oasotheocaseomayobe,omay,oupono detectiono ofo sucho thefto ofo electricity,o immediatelyo disconnectotheosupplyoofoelectricity:oo o Providedothatoonlyosuchoofficeroofotheolicenseeooro supplier,oasoauthorizedoforotheopurposeobyotheoAppropriateo Commissiono oro anyo othero officero ofo theo licenseeo oro supplier,oasotheocaseomayobe,oofotheorankohigherothanotheo ranko soo authorisedo shallo disconnecto theo supplyo lineo ofo electricity:oo o Providedofurtherothatosuchoofficeroofotheolicenseeooro supplier,oasotheocaseomayobe,oshallolodgeoaocomplaintoino writingo relatingo too theo commissiono ofo sucho offenceo ino policeostationohavingojurisdictionowithinotwentyofourohourso fromotheotimeoofosuchodisconnection:oo o Providedoalsoothatotheolicenseeoorosupplier,oasotheo caseo mayo be,o ono deposito oro paymento ofo theo assessedo amounto oro electricityo chargeso ino accordanceo witho theo provisionso ofo thiso Act,o shall,o withouto prejudiceo too theo obligationo too lodgeo theo complainto aso referredo too ino theo secondoprovisootoothisoclause,orestoreotheosupplyolineoofo electricityo withino forty-eighto hourso ofo sucho deposito oro payment.]o o (2)o1[Anyoofficeroofotheolicenseeoorosupplieroasotheo caseo mayo be,]o authorizedo ino thiso behalfo byo theo Stateo Governmentomayo–o o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -10-o

oo (a)oenter,oinspect,obreakoopenoandosearchoanyoplaceo oro premiseso ino whicho heo haso reasono too believeo thato electricityo2[hasobeenooroisobeing,]ousedounauthorisedly;o o o(b)o search,o seizeo ando removeo allo sucho devices,o instruments,o wireso ando anyo othero facilitatoro oro articleo whichohasobeen,ooroisobeing,ousedoforounauthorizedouseoofo electricity;o o o(c)o examineo oro seizeo anyo bookso ofo accounto oro documentso whicho ino hiso opiniono shallo beo usefulo foro oro relevanto to,o anyo proceedingso ino respecto ofo theo offenceo underosub-sectiono(1)oandoallowotheopersonofromowhoseo custodyosuchobooksoofoaccountoorodocumentsoareoseizedotoo makeo copieso thereofo oro takeo extractso therefromo ino hiso presence.o o o(3)o Theo occupanto ofo theo placeo ofo searcho oro anyo persono ono hiso behalfo shallo remaino presento duringo theo searchoandoaolistoofoallothingsoseizedoinotheocourseoofosucho searchoshallobeopreparedoandodeliveredotoosuchooccupanto oropersonowhooshallosignotheolist:oo o Providedothatonooinspection,osearchoandoseizureoofo anyodomesticoplacesoorodomesticopremisesoshallobeocarriedo outobetweenosunsetoandosunriseoexceptoinotheopresenceoofo anoadultomaleomemberooccupyingosuchopremises.oo o (4)o Theo provisionso ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o 1973,o relatingo too searcho ando seizureo shallo apply,oasofaroasomayobe,otoosearchesoandoseizureounderothiso Act.o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxo o Sectiono152.o(Compoundingoofooffences):o---oo o

(1)o Notwithstandingo anythingo containedo ino theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedureo 1973,o theo Appropriateo Governmento oroanyoofficeroauthorizedobyoitoinothisobehalfomayoaccepto fromoanyoconsumerooropersonowhoocommittedoorowhooiso o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -11-o

reasonablyosuspectedoofohavingocommittedoanooffenceoofo thefto ofo electricityo punishableo undero thiso Act,o ao sumo ofo moneyobyowayoofocompoundingoofotheooffenceoasospecifiedo inotheoTableobelow:o o o o TABLEoo -----------------------------------------------------oo NatureoofoServiceoo Rateoatowhichotheosumoofomoneyoforoo o o o Compoundingotoobeocollectedoperoo o o o Kilowatt(KW)/HorseoPower(HP)ooroo o o o partothereofoforoLowoTensiono(LT)oo o o o supplyoandoperoKilooVoltoAmpere(KVA)o o o o ofocontractedodemandoforoHighooo o o o Tensiono(HT)oo

(1)k o o o o (2)o ----------------------------------------------------------------------o

1.IndustrialoServiceoo twentyothousandorupees;oo

2.Commercialoo o Serviceotenothousandorupees;oo

3.AgriculturaloServiceooooootwoothousandorupees;o

4.oOtheroServiceso o ofourothousandorupees:oo ----------------------------------------------------------------------o o ProvidedothatotheoAppropriateoGovernmentomay,obyo notificationo ino theo Officialo Gazette,o amendo theo rateso specifiedoinotheoTableoabove.oo o (2)oOnopaymentoofotheosumoofomoneyoinoaccordanceo withosub-sectiono(1),oanyopersonoinocustodyoinoconnectiono withothatooffenceoshallobeosetoatolibertyoandonooproceedingso shallobeoinstitutedoorocontinuedoagainstosuchoconsumerooro personoinoanyocriminalocourt.oo o (3)o Theo acceptanceo ofo theo sumo ofo moneyo foro compoundingoanooffenceoinoaccordanceowithosub-sectiono

(1)o byo theo Appropriateo Governmento oro ano officero empoweredoinothisobehalfoempoweredoinothisobehalfoshallo beodeemedotooamountotooanoacquittalowithinotheomeaningo ofosectiono300oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973.o

(4)TheoCompoundingoofoanooffenceounderosub-sectiono(1)o shallobeoallowedoonlyoonceoforoanyopersonooroconsumer.o Xxo xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -12-o

Sectiono154.o(ProcedureoandopoweroofoSpecialoCourt):o---o o (1)oNotwithstandingoanythingocontainedoinotheoCodeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o 1973,o everyo offenceo punishableo undero sectionso 135o too 140o ando sectiono 150]o shallo beo triableoonlyobyotheoSpecialoCourtowithinowhoseojurisdictiono suchooffenceohasobeenocommitted.o oo (2)oWhereoitoappearsotooanyocourtoinotheocourseoofo anyo inquiryo oro trialo thato ano offenceo punishableo undero sectionso135otoo139oinorespectoofoanyooffenceothatotheocaseo iso oneo whicho iso triableo byo ao Specialo Courto constitutedo underothisoActoforotheoareaoinowhichosuchocaseohasoarisen,o ito shallo transfero sucho caseo too sucho Specialo Court,o ando thereupono sucho caseo shallo beo triedo ando disposedo ofo byo suchoSpecialoCourtoinoaccordanceowithotheoprovisionsoofo thisoActo:oProvidedothatoitoshallobeolawfuloforosuchoSpecialo Courtotooactoonotheoevidence,oifoany,orecordedobyoanyocourto inotheocaseoofopresenceoofotheoaccusedobeforeotheotransfero ofotheocaseotooanyoSpecialoCourto:o o oProvidedofurtherothatoifosuchoSpecialoCourtoisoofo opinionothatofurtheroexamination,ocross-examinationoando re-examinationo ofo anyo ofo theo witnesseso whoseo evidenceo hasoalreadyobeenorecorded,oisorequiredoinotheointerestoofo justice,oitomayore-summonoanyosuchowitnessoandoafterosucho furtheroexamination,ocrossexaminationoorore-examination,o ifoany,oasoitomayopermit,otheowitnessoshallobeodischarged.oo o (3)o Theo Specialo Courto may,o notwithstandingo anythingo containedo ino subsectiono (1)o ofo sectiono 260o oro sectiono262oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973,otryo theo offenceo referredo too ino sectionso 135o too 139o ino ao summaryo wayo ino accordanceo witho theo procedureo prescribedoinotheosaidoCodeoandotheoprovisionsoofosectionso 263otoo265oofotheosaidoCodeoshall,osoofaroasomayobe,oapplyo toosuchotrialo:oo o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -13-o

o Providedo thato whereo ino theocourseo ofoaosummaryo trialounderothisosubsection,oitoappearsotootheoSpecialoCourto thatotheonatureoofotheocaseoisosuchothatoitoisoundesirableotoo tryosuchocaseoinosummaryoway,otheoSpecialoCourtoshallo recallo anyo witnesso whoo mayo haveo beeno examinedo ando proceedotoore-hearotheocaseoinotheomanneroprovidedobyotheo provisionsoofotheosaidoCodeoforotheotrialoofosuchooffence:o o Providedofurtherothatoinotheocaseoofoanyoconvictiono inoaosummaryotrialounderothisosection,oitoshallobeolawfuloforo aoSpecialoCourtotoopassoaosentenceoofoimprisonmentoforoao termonotoexceedingofiveoyears.oo o

(4)o Ao Specialo Courto may,o witho ao viewo too obtainingo theo evidenceoofoanyopersonosupposedotoohaveobeenodirectlyooro indirectlyo concernedo ino oro privyo to,o anyo offenceo tendero pardonotoosuchopersonoonoconditionoofohisomakingoaofullo ando trueo disclosureo ofo theo circumstanceso withino hiso knowledgeo relatingo too theo offenceo ando too everyo othero personoconcernedowhetheroasoprincipalooroabettoroinotheo commissionothereof,oandoanyopardonosootenderedoshall,oforo theo purposeso ofo sectiono 308o ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,1973,obeodeemedotoohaveobeenotenderedoundero sectiono307othereof.o o o(5)oTheo[SpecialoCourtoshall]odetermineotheociviloliabilityo againstoaoconsumerooroaopersonoinotermsoofomoneyoforo theftoofoenergyowhichoshallonotobeolessothanoanoamounto equivalentotootwootimesoofotheotarifforateoapplicableoforoao periodoofotwelveomonthsoprecedingotheodateoofodetectionoofo theftoofoenergyoorotheoexactoperiodoofotheftoifodeterminedo whichevero iso lesso ando theo amounto ofo civilo liabilityo soo determinedoshallobeorecoveredoasoifoitowereoaodecreeoofo civilocourt.o o

(6)oInocaseotheociviloliabilityosoodeterminedofinallyobyotheo SpecialoCourtoisolessothanotheoamountodepositedobyotheo o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -14-o

consumeroorotheoperson,otheoexcessoamountosoodepositedo byotheoconsumeroorotheoperson,otootheoBoardoorolicenseeooro theo concernedo person,o aso theo caseo mayo be,o shallo beo refundedo byo theo Boardo oro licenseeo oro theo concernedo person,oasotheocaseomayobe,owithinoaofortnightofromotheo dateoofocommunicationoofotheoorderoofotheoSpecialoCourto togetherowithointerestoatotheoprevailingoReserveoBankoofo Indiaoprimeolendingorateoforotheoperiodofromotheodateoofo suchodepositotillotheodateoofopayment.oo o Explanation.o -o Foro theo purposeso ofo thiso section,o "civilo liability"omeansolossoorodamageoincurredobyotheoBoardooro licenseeoorotheoconcernedoperson,oasotheocaseomayobe,odueo tootheocommissionoofoanooffenceoreferredotooinosectionso135o too139."o o o o o o ooooooo(Emphasisosupplied)o

16.o o AoperusaloofotheoschemeoofotheoElectricityoAct,o2003oshowsothato inotheocaseoofounauthorizedouseoofoenergy,otheoassessmentocanobeodoneobyotheo Departmento aso pero theo approvedo formulao whicho ordero ofo assessmento iso appealableo beforeotheo Appellateo Authorityo ino termsoofo Sectiono127oofotheo ElectricityoAct,o2003.oTheocasesoofotheftoofoenergyoareodealtowithounderoao separateoprocedure.oTheodeterminationoofociviloliabilityoinotermsoofoSectiono 154ocanoonlyobeodoneobyoSpecialoCourt.oAnoassessmentoofociviloliabilityocano beodoneoandoanoamountodemandedobyotheorespondent-Distributionolicenseeo underoSectiono135(1)(A)oofotheoElectricityoAct,o2003oonlyoforotheopurposesoofo restorationoofotheoelectricityosupply.ooItoisofurtherostipulatedounderoSectiono154o

(6)oofotheoElectricityoAct,o2003othatoinotheoeventoofotheoassessmentoofotheocivilo liabilityobyotheoSpecialoCourtoifoamountobeingolessothanotheoassessedoamounto demandedo byo theo respondentso undero Sectiono 135o (1)(A),o theo distributiono o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -15-o

licenseeoisoliableotoorefundothatoexcessoamountosoocollectedoalongwithointerest.o Hence,otheodemand/depositoofoanoamountounderoSectiono135o(1)(A)oofotheo ElectricityoAct,o2003oisoonlyoaotentativeodepositoforoenablingorestorationoofo supplyoandoisonotoakinotooassessmentoofoanyocompensationoforolossosustainedo byo theo distributiono licensee.o Determinationo ofo anyo sucho losso aso ao compensatoryomeasureoisotoobeodeterminedobyotheoSpecialoCourtoalone.oSinceo theoSpecialoCourtohasodischargedotheopetitionersoandohasonotoreturnedoanyo findingo quao determinationo ofo ao civilo liabilityo againsto theo petitioner,o theo demandoraisedobyotheopetitionersocannotobeosaidotoobeovalid.oo

17.o o oEvenothoughotheorespondentsohadoissuedotheoassessmentoordero undero Sectiono 135o ofo Electricityo Act,o 2003o however,o ino itso importo ando application,otheosaidoassessmento&odemandocannotobeoreadobeyondo135o(1)(A)o ofotheoElectricityoAct,o2003.oTheopoweroofoassessmentoinoaotheftocaseobeingo onlyounderoSectiono135o(1A)oofotheoElectricityoAct,o2003-theosameoisonotoao demandoofociviloliabilityoatoparounderoSectiono126oofotheoElectricityoAct,o2003.o Theorecoveryoofosaidoamountowasoonlyoanointerimomeasureoandosubjectotoo assessmentobyoSpecialoCourt.oItoisonotoaosourceoofoconferringoanoindependento poweroforoconclusivelyoclaimingoanoassessmentotowardsoloss.oProcedureoundero theostatutoryoschemeohasotoobeofollowedoforoattachingostatutoryovalidityotoo suchoanoact.oTheoremedyoofofilingoanoappealobeforeotheoAppellateoAuthorityo underoSectiono127obyotheopetitionersowasoilloadvisableoandowasonotoavailableo toohimoinolaw.oTheoorderoofotheoappellateoauthorityothusohasonoobearingoonotheo rightsoofotheopetitionerso&oorderocan'tobeoreadotoohisoprejudice.oo

18.oo o Theocaseoofotheopetitionersoisofurtherofortifiedofromotheofactothato inorelationotooSP-38/0793otheorespondentsohaveoalreadyoacknowledgedotheofacto o CWP-1744-2015o(Oo&M)o&oCWP-2697-2015o(Oo&M)o o o o -16-o

thatotheolapseooccurredoonotheopartoofotheoClerkoofotheorespondent-Departmento ino maintainingo theo ledger.o o Hence,o eveno ono theo saido principleo theo benefito accruesoinofavouroofotheopetitioners.o

19.o o Theopresentopetitionsoareothusoallowed.oTheodemandoraisedovideo impugnedoassessmentoordersoisosetoaside.oAmountoifoany,odepositedobyotheo petitionero foroseekingo restorationoofo theo electricityo connectiono ino termso ofoo Sectiono 135(1)(A)o ofo theo Electricityo Act,o 2003o iso liableo too beo refunded/adjustedo byo theo respondentso alongwitho ano interesto @o 6o %o pero annum.oo o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo JUDGEo MARCHo15,o2023o Vishalosharmao o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo:oYes/Nooo o o o Whetheroreportableoo oooo:oYes/Noo