The High Court · 2025

Petition under Section 151 cpc praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High court may be pleased please to stay the operatron of the order passed in w.p. No. 34539 of 2024 to the extent of setting aside the award dated 09.09.2024 passed in Appeal No. 20 of 2024- 25 by Honble Vidyut ornbudsman for the State of relangana and consequenfly not to take any coercive ste.ps during the pendency of the writ appeal. Counsel for the Appellant : Ms.NISHTHA counsel for the Respondents: sRr N.SREEDHAR REDDy, ( sc FoR TGSpDcL) W.P.No.692 OF 2025 writ Appeal under r;lause 15 of the Letters patent against the order dated 01lOSl2025 in W P No 34539 of 2024 on the file of the High Court. Between: Distribution Corrpany Limited (TGSpDCLj, Secunderabad Power Distritrution Company Limited (TGSpObil, SecunEerrOJO

1. The chief G:nerat I\4anager (commercial), Telangana State southern power Distribution Cornpany Limited (TGSpDCL), MinaC6mp";;al-Hyd;;;i;;;' "' 2. The superinterding Engineer, operation, Terangana State southern power 3. The senior r\cc:ounts officer, E.R.o. Bowenpally Terangana State Southern '- -"-' '' 4 The Divisionar Fnnineer, operation. Telangana srate Southem power Distribution C:onrpan"y LimiieJficspdbr).'#c"unoeraoao 5. The Assistant Accounts officer, ERo, Bowenpaly Terangana State southern Power Distributi :n Company Limited ITGSp-D6[], S"Crnd"r;b;-'" """'"' 6. The Assistant [)ivisionat Engineer, operation, R R Nagar, Teranoana state Southern porver Distribution bompany' LimiteO irCSpOC"it,'S;;ffi;;;i;i" 7. The Assistant Einoineer, Operatlon/lDpL, Telangana State Southern power Distribution Conrpiny umiteJo lidsHobr_), b"eJrnoeranao ,..APPELLANTS AND 1 2 Abbineni Nari:yerna Rao. S/o H.No. 5-3-3:11, Sheshadri Hyderabad 5Ct0072 Vidyut O_mbudsrnan for the_ State of Telangana, First Floor, 33/1 .1 Station, Beside tlyderabad Boar Ctub, Lu;bini p;rk,'tiyderabad Abbineni Janga Rao, aged about 70 years Rl/o Nagar. Near Community Hall. Kukatpally, KV Sub ..RESPONDENTS lA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to grant interim stay of operation of the adverse order passed by the Learned Single Judge daled 11512025 passed in W P No. 34539 of 2024 in so far as confirming the Award of the 2nd Respondent dated 9/912024 in Appeal No. 23 of 2024-25, pending disposal ofW A No. of 2025. Counsel for the Appellants : SRI N.SREEDHAR REDDY, SC FOR TSSPDCL Counsel for the Respondent No.1 : Ms.NISHTHA Counsel for the Respondent No.2 : - The Court delivered the following: COMMON JUDGMENT I'HE I{ON'I}I,[ 'I'HI' CTTIT-F .I(,SI'ICE SIU APARESH KTIMAR STNGI{ ,\N D I'TIE HON'BLT] SI(I .IT,STICE G.M.MOHIIIDDTN \4'RIT APPEAL Nos. 657 and 692 of 2025 COMN{O\I .IUDGMENT: Heard Sili N. Sreeclhar Redcly., learneil Standing Cor-rnsel fbr 'I-elan,laria State SoLrtherrr polver Distribution Company Limited appt:aring lirr thc ri rit petitioncrs/ respondent Nos.I to 7 in W.A.No.657 of 2025iappcllants in W.A.Nct.692 of 2025 and Ms. Nishitha, lealned courrsel tbr the appellant in W.A.No.657 of 2O25/respondcnt No.l in W.A.No.692 of 2025 & Writ Pelition No.l4-539 ot'202.1.

2. Bereli c1'ulltccessitr_\ dctails, the short issue involvecl in thc present appeals is ri hethcr tl,rc owneriappellanl in W.A.No.6:i 7 of 2025/rcsponclenr No. I in W.A.No. 692 of 2025 (for short'th,: ou,ner') is liablc to pay thc outstanding ducs of i his lessce/co ns uut c r to tilc rcsponder.rt elcctricity company under the provisions of tltc t:lcctr.icit'Act,2003 (for short ,the Act ol200 l'), and rhe (lcncral I'cr.urs & Conditions of Sr-rpply ll-arncd b1 the ,\nclhra I)radc:;h i:lectricirl, l{egLrlator.,r, 2 HCJ iAKTS,.I] 6; GNIU, J w.;\ los aaT and 691or ,lolr Commission (APEI{C) in 2006, rvhich continues to remaiu irr force aftcr bifurcation oIthe parent State?

3. In,Jisputabll', the nolice of disconncction 'was issucd the lessee, M/s. Vleghana Phalma, by the respondent electricity cornpatly on 13.06.2022' The lessee had left the premises by Lhat time. On failure to pay the outstanding dues by the lcssec, the owuer's Servicc Conner:tion No'S6004023 was also disconrrected. 'lhe dues were to tlre tune of Rs.23.8 1,893i-. At the iustance of the aggrieved owner, the matter travclled to the consumer G|ievance Redressal F'orunr ol thc Circle concerned and therealler, to tl-re Vidyut Ombudstnan of the respondent electricity company' The respondent electricity company being aggrieved by the awarC of the liorurn laid a challenge before this court in writ Petition No.345-19 of 2024'

4. -l'he learned ulit Cortft allcr hearing thc parties and on considcratiorr of thc plea<lings on record held that the owner is tiable to pay the dues of the lcssee, but, at thc same time, also l-reld that the Service Conrlection of the orvner is not a link 3 rir J ilt,i. Jl & (i\[t .. s \ \.,r 657 and 6a2 or 202s I servlce with that ofthe lessee/consuntcr. Being aggrieved bv a part of the orrler dated 01.05.2025 in Writ petirion No.34539 of 2024, the c,rvner and the electricitl both have prcfi:rred these appeals. company as- aforesaid,

5. Consicler,rble argurnents have been advanced on the issue whether the owner is lalling rvithin the meaning of link servlce as per the ciefinition of .consumer, under Section 2(15) of the Act of 2003. Arguments have also been advanced on thc applicability o1' clause 5 2.j of thc General .l.erms Conditior.rs o1' Supply and also on thc sLrbstituted claLrse 4.g. i under Regulalion No.7 of 20i.3 issuecl b), ApllRC, which rernains in fbrce in the State of .felan-qana 6. According r.o the owner, he docs not. have an1. liabilitv dues of his lessec since no indernniry bond rn terrns ol'clause fbr payment of thr: has been execute,l as well. &

5.2.-l of the General l'c-nns & Conditions of SLrpply. 7. On [he part of the electr.icitt. compan_\., ref.er.ence is nrade to the lease agrecrnent betu,een thc ow,ner and the lessee dated 5 & 6 of u.hich pernritted the lessee to 27 .05.2007, c lauses t, I 4 IlC.r I \l\jS..l ai (ltr\t .l !l \ Nos 657 an.t 691 ot2O2r tal<c connection in his nanrc or the lessor,s nalne. .l.he electricily colllpanv has taken a stand that in ternrs of the definition of 'corrsulner' under Section 2(15) of the Act ol 2003, the owner also talls u'ithin the definition of .consumer,. Therefore, the ownci. cannot escape the liability.

8. The learned writ (lourt has also relcrred to thc definition of 'consumcr' under Section 2(15) of the Act of 2003, arrd clause 8.4 of the Geno.a[ '[errns & Conditions of Supply of APERC and procecded ro hotd as under: l6- l'akin r 11[ o considelation:- a) I hc afirlcsaid tircts and circumstances of the b) Thc sLrhntissions put-lbr.th by both tlie learncd counsel on rccord. .l'he c) ar cmrcnts uradc irr the counter affidavit fllcd on behatfol'the l'' respondent, d) -fhc inrpu,rrncd or.dcr of the 2"d rcspondent, datcd 09.09.2024 in Appeal No.20 of l0l'l-25 and Appcal No.23 ol' 2024-25 (r.el'errcd to antl c.rtr-acted abore ). c) I he Auard passed hv tltc Consurrcr (iricvances Reclressal lrorutm l[ (Gr.cater -- 5 ll.l l .1!irs. .lr l,: O:,1\1. J l\ 1 \0s 657 aDd 692 ot 2025 Hyderabad Area) (ln shofl "thc Forum") of Tclangana State. Southern Power DistribLrtion Contpanr [_imircd (rn short "TGSPI)CI.") in CG.No.29l lOtl 24lSccunderabad C. irc le. t) Clause 8.4 ol'Gene ral l'cnns and Conditions of supply ol'l'Glrt{C (rcl-erred to and extracted above). il) The judgmenr of the Apex Court reporrcd in 2023 l.ivelarv (SC) +5j iu benveen K.L Ninan v. Kerala State ol f:lcctricitv Board and others passed in Civil Appeal Nos.2 109 anil I I I 0 o12004. riatctl 19.05.2023 (tclerrcd ro and ertr.acrcd abo ve). 'I'he Writ petition is partly alloued. l-he itnpugned Award dated 09.09.?_024 ol' the 2,,d r.cspondent in so f'ar a:t allowing Appcal No.20 of 2024_25 $ arrants interfcren,;e by this Court in the prcsent w.rir petitiorr anci aocordlngll, the same is set aside and the Auar.d clatcd 09.09.2021 of the 2"d respondent in so fiu. a,. allti..rms Appeal lro.23 ol 2024 wal.l.anrs no inLer.lir.encc br this Court. Ilo,ver..er. tl.rerc shall bc r.ro ot-dcr ils [o costs .. (

9. We howe'r,er, find that the electricity connection ol the owrler has b,:en disconnccted without any notice in terms ol- Section 56 ol'ttre Act of 2003 arld also substituted clause 4.g. I Lrnder Regulaticn No.7 of 2013 rvhich stipLrlates I5 davs, clear 6 HCJ (AKrS. J)& GUNI, J r\ A Nos 657 and ar92 oi1025 notice ir.r writing to such persorr. Scctions 2(15) and 56 of the Act of 2003 are cxtracted hercuuder for proper appreciation "2(15) "consumer" tneatts arl\ pcrson rvho is supplicd with elcctricity for his or'r'n usc b1 a liccusee or thc Governmeut or by any other person engagcd in thc busitiess of supplying electricity to the public undcr this Act or any othcr law for the tirne being in lorce and ilcludes auy pcrson whose premises are for the timc being connccted lor the purpose of receiving electricitl' uith thc rvorks ol a licensee. thc Government or such other persoll. as lhc casc l.na)'bel"

56. Disconnection of suppll in default of par tncnt. (l) Where any person neglccts to pa! an) charge tbr electricity or any sunr other than a chargc liir elcctricity due from him to a liccnsee or the gcttct'ating colllpall)' in rcspect of supply, transtrission or distribution or lvheeling of electricity to him. tlie liccnsee or tlie gcnerating company may, after giving not lcss than 1llteen clear da-vs' uotice itr writing, to such petson and uithout pre.iudice to liis rights to recover such charge or othcr sttttt h1 suit- cut oll'thc supply of electricity and tbr that purpose cut or disconnect any electlic supply line ot othet uorks beitrs the property of such licensee or the generating colllpan) throtrglt llrich electricity may lrave bcen supplied. transn)iltcd. distributed or wheeled and may discontinue the suppll until such charge or other sum, together with any cxpellscs incurred by him in cutting off and reconnecting the supply. are paid. but no longer: Providcd that thc suppll 'lt elecrricit) sliell not bc cut oif if sucl-r pcrson dcposils. under protest,- (a) an atnount equal to the srttlt claimcd 1}om hittr' or 7 : l (l,l :\hr S. .l) .1. il\1,1..I '.t .r \os 6i7 and 612 ol-?02.5 (11 tLrc elccLricitl charges due front hinr lbr cach nronrh c.:lcr lated on the basis of average charce lbr clcctr.icitv paid br hinr durir.rg the preceding six rnonths, rrlricLreve-r is [css, pending disposal ofanv disput. Lret,,lcen Ir irr r lrrrd tlre Iicensec. (f) Notwithstanding anything contained in any orher lau,fbr th,r t me being in force, no sum due tiom anv consumer, ur,der Lhis section shall be recoverable aller the period of lwo ycars liom the date when such sum became lirst cluc Lrnlcss su;h sum has been sholl,n continuouslJr as rcco.,elablc as allcul r-r i' charges tbr electricity supplied ancl ihc liccnscc shrrll lttt cut oll'the suppll,of rlie clcctr-icitr.." l0- Clause 4"8.1 of Regulation 1 of 2013 is also extracted hereunder "-1.8.1. Disconnection duc to non-paymcnt: \\,trcrc a cor)sumcr neglects to pay any consumption chargc lbr elcctlicity or any other sum duc from him to a Licensce. bv lhc duc daLe rnentioned in thc bill. in rcspcct ol supplr ol' .n( rqr [o him. thc licensee mar. aliir giving not l!.ss tllan Irftrer (15) clear days'notice in wr-iting to such 1.rc.sori and r.r'ithorrt prejudice to his righls to recover such chalcc. ctLl oll. suppll o1' clectricity and for that purposc disconnccr an). eler:tri : supplv line or other works being the propcrtl of sLrc h licensc:e or thc gencratirrg contpany through which electricitr has br:en supplicd, and may discontinue the supply until suc r. chargc or other sunl, toqcther with any, c\peuses incurrrcl bv him in cutting olf and rcconllecling thc suppl). are paid. ) : i t t I i i i I I i l i i , l B llCJ (lKrS- J) & GI'l\1. J N .\ \os r,a7 atd 692 oi 20?i ._ ..- ,.1 ln cases of all supply connections. rthcrc discotrncction datc for non-paymcnt of electricitv charges is nleutioncd in the bill. a separate disconnection notice is not rcquired' Where any consumcr clefaults in pavnlenls of (-'harges lcrr the supply of electricity. and ,/ or aul othcr sutlts pal'able to thc Compatiy undet the colltract of suppl] agrcclllcnt, tlle Company, niay, without prejudicc to its othcr rights causc to disconnect all or any of thc othcr serl'ices of the consumer within thc area of supply of the l-iccnsec' though such services bc distincl and ate govcrned b)'scpalate agreenlents and though no deiault occurred in respect Lhcrcof " I t. It is beyond cavil that ullder thc statutorv rcgirlie' evell though assumingly thc orvner falls r.vithirr the definition of 'consumer', the electricity connectiol.l itr the tratne of the owncr would not have been disconnected lbl tlon-paytnent of alrears of electricity dues by thc lessee \\ithout propcr llotice to the owner/consumer i.e., thc appellant in W'A No'657 of

2025. If the disconnection of thc electricitl' collnection of the owner has been made withotrt l)rt)per sL-l\ icc o[' llotice upoll \ hirn, 1[re whole substratum ol the aciion take n b1 the electricitl' company has to fall. In such c irclrll-lstallces ' at this stage' without delving into the legal isstrcs raiscd on betralf of both the parties, we are of the considcred opinion thal discontlection 9 rla.; 1lhrs..Jl .li (l\r'.: , \! A \,i: 6J7 a.d 092 o':1,-). ol' clectricitl in tlic name of' the owner/consurner havin, cortsLlnter N1r.S6004023 \'as not proper the eye o1- laii Accc-''rdingl,r'. it is set aside. l'he respondent cornpanl, shall lol'thrvith restore the elcctricitv connection to the ow.ner. It 'urould hortcler be open for the electricity colnpany to ISSUC fiesh noticr: upon the owner for payment of the alleged dues ol his lessec, lamcly, Meghana Pharma, and depenciing upon tlre replv subnrittt:d by consumer,/owner, take a decision thereuporr irr accordancc u il-li larv, rvithin the stipulated tinte.

12. [n vir:rv of what has been held hereinabove, the order datcd 0l 05.2025 passed by the learned writ Court in Wr.ir I)ctitinn No.l-1539 oI 2024 cannot be allorvecj to stand. ,\ccordingl',. it is set aside. The issue raised in tl.rc appcal is lcli opcn to be- clcciclcd in the appropriate casc. I he Writ Appcals arc disposed of as afore-stated. '[hcre shall be no ordcr as to costs. .r- '\l \. 1 10 il(.1 \i!rS. Jr a': G\111. i \! A \os 6tr, a.'l 6()J ('l 20li Misccllaneous applications, if any pending, shall stand closed. //TRUE COPY// , SD/.N. SRIHARI DEPUTY REGISTRAR & SECTION OFFICER To,

2. a 4 6

8. o 10 The Chief General Manager (Commercial), Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited,6-1-50, Ground Floor, Corporate Office, I\/int Compound, Hyderabad - 500 063. The Superintending Engineer, Operation Circle, Secunderabad, Telangana Southein Power Distribution Company Limited, Bowenpally, Secunderabad The Senior Accounts Officer, ERO Secunderabad, Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited, Bowenpally, Secunderabad. The Divisional Engineer, Operation,, Bowenpally, Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited, Secunderabad. The Assistant Accounts Officer,, ERO Bowenpally, Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited, Secunderabad. The Assistant Divisional Engineer, Operation,, RR Nagar, Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. The Assistant Engineer, Operation,, IDPL, Telangana Southern Power Distribution Comfany Limited. Balanagar, Hyderabad - 500 037. The Vidyut Ombudsman for the State of Telangana, 33/1 1 Sub Station, Beside Hyderabad Boats Club, Lumbini Park, Hyderabad - 500 063. One CC to lVs.NlSHTHA, Advocate. IOPUCI One CC to SRI N.SREEDHAR REDDY, (SC FOR TGSPDCL) IOPUC] 11 Two CD Copies. BSK IA HIGH COURT DATED:0610812025 ,. "<J ? f, ii; ;s6 t) \ COMMON JUDGMENT WA.Nos.657 & 692 ot 2025 DISPOSING OF THE WRIT APPEALS WITHOUT COSTS $ ..I .L