Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd and Others v. M/S Shree Durga Spinning Mill and Another

o o 2023:PHHC:155915o o ooooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHoo 212o o o o o o o o oooooo o o o o o o o o o oCWP-5877-2019o o o o o o oooooooooooooooooooooooDateoofodecision:o16.11.2023o o UTTARoHARYANAoBIJLIoVITRANoNIGAMoLTDoANDoOTHERSoo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oooooooo oooooooooo......Petitionersoo o o o o o o VERSUSo o M/SoSHREEoDURGAoSPINNINGoMILLoANDoANOTHERoo o o o o o ooooooo o o o o o o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o o CORAMo:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o o o o o o *****o o Present:o-oo Mr.oR.S.oLongia,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitioners.o o o o o Mr.oBhuwanoVats,oLegaloAidoCounseloo o o fororespondentoNo.1oo oo o o o o o *****oo VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(Oral)oo o o o Challengeo ino theo presento writo petitiono iso too theo awardo datedo

26.10.2018o (Annexureo P-3)o passedo byo respondento No.2-Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services),o Panipato wherebyo theo applicationo undero Sectiono22–CoofotheoLegaloServicesoAuthoritiesoAct,o1987owasoallowedoando theodemandoraisedobyotheopetitioner-DistributionoLicenseeohasobeenosetoaside.oo

2.o o Despiteo theo respondento havingo beeno servedo aso pero theo reporto datedo22.04.2020,otheorespondentoNo.1,ohasochosenonototooenteroappearance.o CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -2-o o Theomatterowasoadjournedotooenableoappearanceoonobehalfoofotheorespondento No.1,o however,o noo oneo haso enteredo appearance,o ito waso orderedo too beo proceededoagainstoex-parteovideoorderodatedo13.07.2023.ooTheomatterowaso stilloadjournedotoo enableo representationo onobehalfoofotheosaido respondent.o Sinceothereowasonoorepresentation,otheomatterohasobeenoheardobyoseekingo assistanceofromoMr.oBhuwanoVats,owhooisotheoLegaloAidoCounsel,otooassistoono theofactsoonobehalfoofotheorespondentoNo.1.o

3.o o Counseloforotheopetitioner-DistributionoLicenseeohasocontendedo thatorespondentoNo.1oisoaoconsumeroofotheopetitioner-distributionolicenseeoando iso runningo ano industryo undero theo nameo ando styleo ofo M/so Shreeo Durgao SpinningoMilloatoPanipat.oTheosaidorespondentoisoaolargeosupplyoconsumeroofo theopetitionerohavingoelectricityoconnectionoNo.oLS125.oOnoitsodemand,oloado onoitsoconnectionowasooincreasedofromo224-285okwotoo378.970okwowithoCDo fromo280oKVAotoo421oKVAovideoofficeoorderoNo.o20/86odatedo26.11.2013,o whichowasomadeoeffectiveow.e.f.o06.12.2013.oHowever,oinadvertentlyotheobillo forotheomonthoofoDecember,o2013owasowronglyoissuedowithoutoconsideringo theo increasedo loado ando continuedo too beo raisedo accordingly.o Theo aboveoo mistakeowentounnoticedoandowasopointedooutoforotheofirstotimeobyotheoAudito partyo ono 25.06.2015o inoitso audito note.o oAftero re-verificationoofo theoentireo record,otheoauditonoteowasofoundotoohaveobeenojustifiablyoraised.oAnoamounto ofoRs.o1,66,848/-owasothusofoundorecoverableofromotheorespondentoNo.1oaso pero theo applicableo tariffo rate.o o Sinceo theo loado ono theo connectiono ofo theo consumerohasobeenoenhancedoonohisoapplicationoandoafterofurnishingoofoano undertakingo thato heo willo payo allo theo consequentialo enhancedo charges,o theo amountowasothusorecoverableofromotheorespondentoNo.1.oTheosaidoamounto wasothusoaddedoinotheorunningobilloofotheoconsumeroforotheomonthoofoMarch,o CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -3-o o 2017o ino theo columno ofo sundryo charges.o Theo respondento No.1,o consumero approachedo theo officialso ofo theo petitioner-distributiono licenseeo too enquireo aboutotheoaboveosaidochargeoandotheosameowasoexplainedotooit.oNoodisputeo quaotheoassessmentoandotheodemandoonotheobasisoofoenhancedoloadowasoraisedo byo theo respondent-consumer.o However,o theo respondento preferredo ano applicationounderoSectiono22-CoofotheoLegaloServicesoAuthoritiesoAct,o1987o beforeotheoPermanentoLokoAdalato(PublicoUtilityoServices).o

4.o o oTheo petitionero enteredo appearanceo beforeo theo Legalo Serviceso Authoritieso ando raisedo itso objectionso againsto maintainabilityo ofo theo saido applicationo ando too theo validityo ofo theo demand.o Aftero theo failureo ofo theo conciliationoproceedings,oadjudicationowasoinitiatedobyotheoPermanentoLoko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services)o ando ono considerationo ofo theo rivalo submissions,otheoPermanentoLokoAdalato(PublicoUtilityoServices)oallowedotheo saidoapplicationovideoawardodatedo26.10.2018obyorelyingouponoSectiono56o(2)oo ofo theo Electricityo Act,o 2003o alongwitho costo ando litigationo expenseso ofo Rs.5000/-.oTheorespondentoNo.1-consumerowasoheldonotoliableotoopayotheo aboveo amounto ofo Rs.1,66,848/-o o towardso sundryo chargeso claimedo byo theo petitioner-distributionolicenseeoinoitsobillopertainingotootheomonthoofoMarch,o 2017.oo

5.o o Theo Legalo Aido Counselo nominatedo todayo ino theo Courto haso additionallyo contendedo thato theo respondento No.1-Consumero hado beeno regularlyomakingopaymentoofotheobillsoraisedotoohim.oAohugeoamountowaso howevero demandedo byo theo petitionero aso sundryo charges.o o Wheno theo respondento No.1o approachedo theo petitioner-authoritieso ando soughto explanationo abouto theo same,o theo petitionero waso informedo thato ito waso ono accountoofoobjectionopointedooutobyotheoAuditopartyoTheoclaimoinoquestiono CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -4-o o wasohoweverobarredoinotermsoofoSectiono56o(2)oofotheoElectricityoActoando despiteo theo respondento approachingo theo superior-highero authorities,o theo requisiteo correctiono waso noto done.o o Theo respondento No.1o waso thuso constrainedotooapproachotheoPermanentoLokoAdalato(PublicoUtilityoServices)o underotheoLegaloServicesoAuthoritiesoAct,o1987.oUponoconsiderationoofotheo submissions,otheoPermanentoLokoAdalato(PublicoUtilityoServices),oPanipato rightlyoallowedotheosaidoapplicationoandosetoasideotheoillegaloandoarbitraryo demandoraisedobyotheopetitioner-distributionolicensee.oo

6.o o oTheo Legalo Aido Counselo haso furthero drawno attentiono too theo followingoextractoofotheoawardopassedobyotheoPermanentoLokoAdalato(Publico UtilityoServices),oPanipat:-o o "14.oInoParaono.2oofotheoreplyoonomerits,otheorespondentso haso specificallyo mentionedo thato "audito partyo checkedo theo accounto ofo theo connectiono no.o LS125o ofo theo applicanto ono

25.06.2015o ando foundo thato theo loado ofo theo applicanto waso extendedofromo224.285oKWotoo378.970oKWowithoCDo280oKVAotoo 421o KVAo video SJOo no.o 20/86o datedo 26.11.2013,o whicho waso effectedoono06.12.2013,obutotheobilloofoDecember,o2013owasonoto renderedo too theo applicanto ono extendedo load.o Therefore,o theo differenceoofoamountoofoRs.o1,66,848/-owasochargeableoinotheo accounto ofo theo applicant."o Theo respondento haso addedo theo amounto ofo Rs.o 1,66,848/-o ino theo electricityo bill.o issuedo ino theo Marcho2017oasosundryocharges.oTheoaboveomentionedoamounto certainlyowasoclaimedoafterotwooyearsofromotheodateotheoamounto becameo dueo towardso theo applicant,o eveno ifo versiono ofo theo respondentsoisopresumedotoobeocorrect.oInothisowayoclaimoofotheo respondentsoregardingopaymentoofotheoamountoofoRs.o1,66,848/-o asosundryochargesoisobarredobyolimitationoasoprovidedoundero sectiono56(2)oofotheoelectricityoActo2003owhichoforotheosameoofo convenience'soreproducedobelow:-o CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -5-o o o Sectiono56(2)o"Notwithstandingoanythingocontainedo inoanyootherolawoforotheotimeobeingoinoforce,onoosumodueo fromo anyo consumer,o undero thiso sectiono shallo beo recoverableoafterotheoperiodoofotwooyearsofromotheodateo wheno sucho sumo becameo firsto dueo unlesso sucho sumo haso beeno showno continuouslyo aso recoverableo aso arrearo ofo chargesoforoelectricityosuppliedoandotheolicenseeoshallonoto cutooffotheosupplyoofotheoelectricity".o o Undero Sectiono 56(2)o ofo theo Electricityo Acto restrictionso haveo beeno puto foro recoveryo ofo arrearso pertainingotootheoperiodopriorotootwooyearsofromoconsumero (unlessotheoarrearohaveobeenocontinuouslyoshownoinotheo billsoTheorestrictionohaveobeenoconsideredonecessaryotoo protectotheoconsumerofromoarbitraryobillingsoo o 15.o Ino thiso wayo ino thiso caseo respondent-o Nigamo claimedoanoamountoofoRs.o1,66,848/-ofromotheoapplicanto byomentioningoinotheoelectricityobilloasosundryocharges.o Findingsocanobeosafelyogivenothatotheorespondent-Nigamo iso noto entitledo too recovero theo aboveo mentionedo amounto fromo theo applicant.o Resultantlyo ito iso heldo thato theo applicantoisonotoliableotoopayoanoamountoofoRs.o1,66,848/-o whichohasobeenounnecessarilyoaddedoinohisobilloforotheo monthoofoMarcho2017.o o

7.o o Respondingotootheoabove,ocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoarguedo thatotheoawardosuffersofromomisappreciationoofoprovisionsoofoSectiono56o(2)oo ofotheoElectricityoAct,o2003oasoalsootheojudgmentsoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courtoofo Indiao aso welloaso judgmento ofo thiso Court.o Heoplaceso relianceoono judgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtodatedo19.05.2023oinotheomatteroofo "K.C.oNinanoversusoKeralaoStateoElectricityoBoard"opassedoinoCiviloAppealo No.oo2109-2110oofo2004odatedo19.05.2023.ooTheorelevantoextractoofotheosameo isoreproducedoasobelow:-o CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -6-o o o o o "Theoconclusionsoareosummarisedobelow:o a.oTheodutyotoosupplyoelectricityounderoSectiono43oofotheo 2003o Acto iso noto absolute,o ando iso subjecto too theo sucho chargeso ando complianceso stipulatedo byo theo Electrico Utilitieso aso parto ofo theo applicationo foro supplyo ofo electricity;o b.oTheodutyotoosupplyoelectricityounderoSectiono43oisowitho respecto too theo ownero oro occupiero ofo theo premises.o Theo 2003oActocontemplatesoaosynergyobetweenotheoconsumero ando premises.o Undero Sectiono 43,o wheno electricityo iso supplied,o theo ownero oro occupiero becomeso ao consumero onlyowithorespectotoothoseoparticularopremisesoforowhicho electricityo iso soughto ando providedo byo theo Electrico Utilities;o c.o Foro ano applicationo too beo consideredo aso ao 'reconnection',o theo applicanto haso too seeko supplyo ofo electricityowithorespectotootheosameopremisesoforowhicho electricityowasoalreadyoprovided.oEvenoifotheoconsumeroiso theo same,o buto theo premiseso areo different,o ito willo beo consideredoasoaofreshoconnectionoandonotoaoreconnection;o d.oAoconditionoofosupplyoenactedounderoSectiono49oofotheo 1948o Acto requiringo theo newo ownero ofo theo premiseso too clearotheoelectricityoarrearsoofotheopreviousoowneroasoao preconditiono too availingo electricityo supplyo willo haveo ao statutoryocharacter;o e.o Theo scopeo ofo theo regulatoryo powerso ofo theo Stateo Commissiono undero Sectiono 50o ofo theo 2003o Acto iso wideo enoughotoostipulateoconditionsofororecoveryoofoelectricityo arrearso ofo previouso ownerso fromo newo oro subsequento owners;o f.oTheoElectricityoSupplyoCodeoprovidingofororecoupmento ofoelectricityoduesoofoaopreviousoconsumerofromoaonewo CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -7-o o ownerohaveoaoreasonableonexusowithotheoobjectsoofotheo 2003oAct;o g.oTheoruleomakingopowerocontainedounderoSectiono181o readowithoSectiono50oofotheo2003oActoisowideoenoughotoo enableo theo regulatoryo commissiono too provideo foro ao statutoryo chargeo ino theo absenceo ofo ao provisiono ino theo plenaryostatuteoprovidingoforocreationoofosuchoaocharge;o h.oTheopowerotooinitiateorecoveryoproceedingsobyofilingoao suitoagainstotheodefaultingoconsumeroisoindependentoofotheo powero too disconnecto electricalo supplyo aso ao meanso ofo recoveryounderoSectiono56oofotheo2003oAct;o i.oTheoimplicationoofotheoexpressiono"asoisowhereois"obasiso isothatoeveryointendingobidderoisoputoononoticeothatotheo sellerodoesonotoundertakeoresponsibilityoinorespectoofotheo propertyoofferedoforosaleowithoregardotooanyoliabilityoforo theopaymentoofodues,olikeoserviceocharges,oelectricityodueso foropoweroconnection,oandotaxesoofotheolocaloauthorities;o ando j.oInotheoexerciseoofotheojurisdictionounderoArticleo142oofo theoConstitution,otheoElectricoUtilitiesohaveobeenodirectedo inotheofactsoofocasesobeforeousotoowaiveotheooutstandingo interestoaccruedoonotheoprincipaloduesofromotheodateoofo applicationo foro supplyo ofo electricityo byo theo auctiono purchasers.o

8.o o Referringotootheoabove,oitoisosubmittedobyotheocounselothatotheo powerotooinitiateorecoveryoinotermsoofoSectiono56o(2)oofotheoElectricityoAct,o 2003oisonotoprohibitedoandoisoindependentoofotheopowerotoodisconnectotheo electricalosupplyoforoeffectingorecoveryounderotheosaidoprovision.oAoreferenceo isoalsoomadeotootheojudgmentoofothisoCourtodatedo22.03.2023opassedoinoCWP-20743-2020otitledoaso"UttaroHaryanaoBijlioVitranoNigamoLtd.oandoanothero versuso Sato Naraino Dhanwantrio ando another"o whereino thiso Courto hado CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -8-o o allowedotheowritopetitionofiledobyotheoDistributionoLicenseeoandohadosetoasideo theoawardopassedobyotheoPermanentoLokoAdalato(PublicoUtilityoServices),o Rohtakounderosimilarocircumstancesowhereoaobillohadobeenorevisedosinceotheo earlierobillsohadobeenoraisedobyoapplyingoaowrongomultiplicationofactor.oTheo relevantoextractoofotheosaidojudgmentoreadsothus:o o "Sinceo theo controversyo ino questiono revolveso onlyo aroundo theo interpretationo ando applicationo ofo Sectiono 56(2)oofoTheoElectricityoAct,o2003,otheosameoisoextractedo asounder:o "56(2)oofoTheoElectricityoAct,o2003o Notwithstandingo anythingo containedo ino anyo othero lawoforotheotimeobeingoinoforce,onoosumodueofromo anyo consumer,o undero thiso sectiono shallo beo recoverableoafterotheoperiodoofotwooyearsofromotheo dateowhenosuchosumobecameofirstodueounlessosucho sumohasobeenoshownocontinuouslyoasorecoverableo asoarrearoofochargesoforoelectricityosuppliedoandotheo licenseeo shallo noto cuto offo theo supplyo ofo theo electricity."o Itoisoevidentofromotheoperusaloofotheoaforesaidoprovisiono thatotheoDistributionoLicenseeoisoprecludedofromoseekingo recoveryoofoanyosumodueofromoaoconsumeroafteroaoperiodo ofotwooyearsofromotheodateowhenosuchosumobecameofirsto due,o unlesso sucho sumo haso beeno showno continuouslyo aso arrearsoofochargesoforoelectricityosupplyoandotheolicenseeo shallonotocutooffotheosupplyoofoelectricity.oTheoaforesaido provisionohasobeenointerpretedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeo CourtoinotheomatteroofoAssistantoEngineero(D1)oAjmero Vidyuto Vitrano Nigamo Limitedo ando anothero Vs.o Rahamatuallao Khano @o Rahamjullao bearingo Civilo Appealo No.1672o ofo 2020o arisingo outo ofo SLPo (Civil)o NO.5190oofo2019odecidedoono18.02.2020.oTheorelevanto extractoofotheosameoisoreproducedohereinafterobelow:o CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -9-o o "6.oTheonextoissueoisoasotoowhetherotheoperiodoofo limitationoofotwooyearsoprovidedobyoSectiono56(2)oofo theoAct,owouldobeoapplicableotooanoadditionalooro supplementaryodemand.o

6.1oPriorotootheocomingointooforceoofotheoElectricityo Act,o 2003,o theo Indiano Electricityo Act,o 1910o governedotheolawopertainingotootheouseoandosupplyo ofo electricityo ino India.o Sectiono 24o ofo theo Indiano ElectricityoAct,o1910oreadoasofollowso:–o "24.oDiscontinuanceoofosupplyotooconsumeroneglectingo toopayocharge.o

(1)oWhereoanyopersononeglectsotoopayoanyochargeo foro energyo oro anyo sum,o othero thano ao chargeo foro energy,odueofromohimotooaolicenseeoinorespectoofotheo supplyo ofo energyo too him,o theo licenseeo may,o aftero givingo noto lesso thano seveno clearo days'o noticeo ino writingotoosuchopersonoandowithoutoprejudiceotoohiso rightotoorecoverosuchochargeoorootherosumobyosuit,o cuto offo theo supplyo ando foro thato purposeo cuto oro disconnectoanyoelectricosupply-lineoorootheroworkso beingootheopropertyoofotheolicensee,othroughowhicho energyomayoobeosupplied,oandomayodiscontinueotheo supplyountilosuchoo chargeroorootherosum,otogethero withoalloexpensesoincurredoo byohimoinocuttingooffo andoreconnectingotheosupply,oareoo paid,o buto noo longer.o

(2)oo Whereoanyodifferenceoorodisputeowhichobyooro underothisoActoisorequiredotoobeodeterminedobyoano Electricalo Inspector,o haso beeno referredo too theo Inspectorobeforeonoticeoasoaforesaidohasobeenogiveno byotheolicensee,otheolicenseeoshallonotoexerciseotheo powersoconferredobyothisosectionountilotheoInspectoro hasogivenohisodecision:o o Providedo thato theo prohibitiono containedo ino thisosubsectionoo shallo noto applyo ino anyo caseo ino CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -10-o o whichotheolicenseeohasoo madeoaorequestoinowritingo tootheoconsumeroforoaodepositoo witho theo Electricalo Inspectoroofotheoamountoofotheoolicensee'so chargeso orootherosumsoinodisputeooroforotheoo depositoofotheo licensee'so furthero chargeso foro energyo aso theyo accrue,oandotheoconsumerohasofailedotoocomplyowitho suchorequest."o o Theo Standingo Committeeo ofo Energyo ino itso Reporto datedo19.12.2002osubmittedotootheo13thoLokoSabha,o opinedothatoSectiono56oofotheo2003oActoisobasedoono Sectiono24oofotheo1910oAct.o o TheoStandingoCommitteeofurtheroopinedothato aorestrictionoo hasobeenoaddedofororecoveryoofo arrearsopertainingotootheoo periodopriorotootwoo yearsofromoconsumers,ounlessotheoo arrearso haveo beenocontinuouslyoshownoinotheobills.ooJustifyingotheo additionoofothisorestriction,otheoMinistryoofoo Powero submittedothat:o–o "Itohasobeenoconsideredonecessaryotooprovideoforo sucho ao restrictiono too protecto theo consumerso fromo arbitraryobillings."o

6.2o Ino Swastico Industrieso v.o Maharashtrao Stateo Electricityo Board,o (1997)o 9o SCCo 465o thiso Courto whileo interpretingoSectiono24oofotheoIndianoElectricityoAct,o1910o heldothat:o–o "5.oItowould,othus,obeoclearothatotheorightotoorecovero theo chargeso iso oneo parto ofo ito ando righto too discontinueo supplyo ofo electricalo energyo too theo consumerowhooneglectsotoopayochargesoisoanothero partoofoit."o o o o o o o o (emphasisosupplied)o

6.3oSub-sectiono(1)oofoSectiono56oconfersoaostatutoryorighto too theo licenseeo companyo too disconnecto theo supplyo ofo CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -11-o o electricity,oifotheoconsumeroneglectsotoopayotheoelectricityo dues.o Thisostatutoryorightoisosubjectotootheoperiodoofolimitationo ofotwooyearsoprovidedobyosub-sectiono(2)oofoSectiono56oofo theoAct.o

6.4o Theo periodo ofo limitationo ofo twoo yearso wouldo commenceofromotheodateoonowhichotheoelectricityochargeso becameo"firstodue"ounderosub-sectiono(2)oofoSectiono56.o Thisoprovisionorestrictsotheorightoofotheolicenseeocompanyo too disconnecto electricityo supplyo dueo too non-paymento ofo duesobyotheoconsumer,ounlessosuchosumohasobeenoshowno continuouslyotoobeorecoverableoasoarrearsoofoelectricityo supplied,oinotheobillsoraisedoforotheopastoperiod.o o Ifotheolicenseeocompanyowereotoobeoallowedotoodisconnecto electricityosupplyoafterotheoexpiryoofotheolimitationoperiodo ofotwooyearsoafterotheosumobecameo"firstodue",oitowouldo defeatotheoobjectoofoSectiono56(2).o o

7.oSectiono56(2)ohowever,odoesonotoprecludeotheolicenseeo companyofromoraisingoaosupplementaryodemandoafterotheo expiryo ofo theo limitationo periodo ofo twoo years.o Ito onlyo restrictsotheorightoofotheolicenseeotoodisconnectoelectricityo supplyodueo too non-paymentoofoduesoaftero theoperiodo ofo limitationoofotwooyearsohasoexpired,onorodoesoitorestricto otheromodesooforecoveryowhichomayobeoinitiatedobyotheo licenseeo companyo foro recoveryo ofo ao supplementaryo demand.o o

8.oApplyingotheoaforesaidoratiootootheofactsoofotheopresento case,otheolicenseeocompanyoraisedoanoadditionalodemando ono18.03.2014oforotheoperiodoJuly,o2009otooSeptember,o 2011."o o

9.o o Heosubmitsothatoitoisoevidentofromotheoperusaloofotheoaforesaido judgmentothatotheopositionoinolawohasobeenowellolaidodownobyotheoHon'bleo CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -12-o o SupremeoCourtothatotheoperiodoofolimitationoofotwooyearsoonlyorestrictsotheo rightoofotheolicenseeotoodisconnectotheoelectricityosupplyoforonon-paymentoando doesonotodenyoitoaorightotooseekorecoveryoofotheoaboveoamount.o

10.o o ItoisofurtheroarguedothatosupplyoofoenergyounderoTheoElectricityo Act,o2003oisoonoaccountoofocontractobetweenotheoparties.oRetentionoofoanyo benefitotoowhichoaopersonoisonotoentitledounderotheocontractodoesonotoconferoao rightoonotheoconsumerotooretainotheosameoandoratherocreatesoanoobligationoono theoconsumerotooindemnifyoforotheoconsumptionoofosuchogrid/energyoused,oaso perotheobasicotenetsoofotheolawoofocontract.oo

11.o o ItoisosubmittedothatotheointerpretationoacceptedobyotheoPermanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services),o Rohtako iso noto basedo ono correcto interpretationo ofo lawo aso interpretedo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court.o Theo AwardopassedobyotheoPermanentoLokoAdalatoaccordinglyosuffersofromoano illegality,operversityoandoimproprietyoandoisohenceoliableotoobeosetoaside.oTheo demandoraisedobyotheopetitioner-DistributionoLicenseeoisothusoupheld.k

12.o o Heo furthero submitso thato theo aforesaido judgmento waso subjecto matteroofochallengeoinoLettersoPatentoAppealoNo.o998oofo2023oandoothatotheo sameohasobeenodismissedoasowithdrawnobyotheorespondent-consumerothereino videoorderodatedo02.08.2023.oHence,otheojudgmentoofothisoCourtowasonoto interferedowithoandotheosameohasobeenoupheldobyotheoDivisionoBenchoasowell.oo

13.o o TheoLegaloAidoCounseloappearingoonobehalfooforespondentoNo.1o althoughomakesoanoeffortotoowriggleooutoofotheoscopeoandooperationoofotheo aforesaidojudgment,ohowever,otheosubmissionoadvancedobyotheocounselodoeso notoinspireoanyoconfidence.oo

14.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo petitionero aso wello aso Legalo Aido Counselo ando haveo goneo througho theo CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -13-o o documentso appendedo alongwithoinstantopetitiono andoalsoo theojudgmento ofo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndia.oo

15.o o Itoisoapparentofromoaoperusaloofotheoaforesaidojudgment,othatotheo provisionsoofoSectiono56o(2)oofotheoElectricityoAct,o2003owouldocomeointoo play,oonlyoonooccurrenceoofoanoeventualityoofoanoamountohavingobecomeodueo forotheofirstotimeoandoaoperiodoofo02oyearsohavingoelapsedothereafterowhereoano erroro haso noto beeno noticedo ando ao wrongo benefito hado beeno availedo byo ao consumerodueotooaboveolapse,otheoprovisionowouldonotobeoapplicable.oFurther,o theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasofurtheroclarifiedoinotheoaboveojudgmentothato evenoinoaocaseowhereotheoamountodueoforotheofirstotimeoisonotorecoveredo withino ao periodo ofo 02o yearso ofo beingo showno due,o recoveryo cano stillo beo effectedo &o onlyo theo coerciveo measureo ofo disconnectiono beo noto initiated.oo Undisputedly,otheoconnectedoloadowentounnoticedoandotheoelectricityobillso continuedotoobeoraisedoonotheounextendedoload.oTheosaidoaspecto&oerroroino billingo hado noto beeno disputedo byo theo respondento No.1-consumer.o o Eveno duringotheocourseoofoproceedingsoinstitutedobeforeotheoPermanentoLokoAdalato (Publico Utilityo Services),o Panipat,o thereo waso noo disputeo pertainingo too theo assessmento ofo theo amount.o Ino theo absenceo ofo anyo denial/disputeo quao theo questionsoofofactoraisedoaboveoorotheodemandoassessed,oitohasotoobeoconstruedo thatotheodemandowasoassessedoinoaccordanceowithotheoconnectedoloadoandoaso perotheoapplicableotariffoonly.oo

16.o o Further,otheospecificocaseoofotheopetitionerodistributionolicenseeo wasothatotheobillsohadobeenoraisedoatotheounextendedoloadoandothatotheosaido anomalyocameotootheonoticeoonlyoinoDecember,o2015.oHence,otheoperiodoofo limitationoisotoocommenceowhenotheosaidofactofirstocameotootheonoticeoofotheo distributionolicensee.oTheodemandoinoquestionohavingobeenoraisedoinotheobillo CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -14-o o foroMarch,o2017,ohence,ootheosameowasoraisedowithinolimitationoofotwooyearso prescribedounderoSectiono56o(2)oofotheoElectricityoAct,o2003.oThusotheorighto ofo recoveryo ofo theo aboveo saido amounto hado beeno rightlyo invokedo byo theo petitioner-distributionolicenseeoandothatotheosaidorightohasobeenorecognizedotoo beoaovalidoandoenforceableorightobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoonoIndiaonoto onlyoinotheojudgmentoofoK.C.oNinanoo(Supra)obutoalsooinotheojudgmentoofo "Assistanto Engineero (D1)o Ajmero Vidyuto Vitrano Nigamo Limitedo ando anotheroversusoRahamatuallaoKhano@oRahamjulla"obearingoCiviloAppealo No.o1672oofo2020oarisingooutoofoSLPo(Civil)oNo.o5190oofo2019odecidedoono

18.02.2020oandoreliedouponoinotheojudgmentoofo"UttaroHaryanaoBijlioVitrano NigamoLtd.oandoanotheroversusoSatoNarainoDhanwantrioandoanother".o o

17.o o Ino viewo ofo theo above,o Io findo thato theo awardo passedo byo theo Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services),o Panipato sufferso fromo improperoappreciationoofolawoandofactsowhichoaroseoforoconsiderationoofotheo PermanentoLokoAdalato(PublicoUtilityoServices).oTheofailureotooreferotootheo correctopositionoinolawowouldogootootheorestoofotheoawardo&orenderoisobad,o illegalo&ounsustainable.oExerciseoofoaodiscretionowhichoisoinoviolationoofo correctopositionoinolawocannotobeoprotectedooroapproved.oTheosameovitiateso theoawardoandorenderotheoconclusionsodrawnobyoitoliableotoobeosetoaside.oo o

18.o o Theo presento writo petitiono iso accordinglyo allowed.o Theo awardo datedo 26.10.2018o (Annexureo P-3)o passedo byo respondento No.2-Permanento Loko Adalato (Publico Utilityo Services),o Panipato ino Applicationo No.o 173/17o titledo aso "M/so Shreeo Durgao Spinningo Millo versuso Uttrio Haryanao Bijlio VitranoNigamoLtd."oisosetoaside.oo o CWP-5877-2019o(O&M)o o -15-o o o o Allotheopendingomiscellaneousoapplication(s),oifoany,oareoalsoo disposedoof.oo o o oo o o o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo NOVEMBERo16,o2023o o o o o oooooJUDGEo VishaloSharmao o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo o o o WhetheroReportableo o :o Yes/Noo