JUDGMENT

RAY, C.J.I. :—These appeals are by special leave from the judgment dated 26 August, 1975 of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.

2. The special leave was granted as follows :-

"During the period in question there was an order of the State Government under Section 22-B of the Electricity Act, 1910 limiting the supply of electricity to 75 per cent of the previous consumption. The quotas fixed by the Board are very often below 75 per cent and sometimes as low as 30 per cent. Special leave should be granted limited to the question whether in the facts of the order under Section 22-B it is open to reduce the supply to anything less than 75 per cent and charge penalty of extra charges for that quantity."

3. The State Electricity Board referred to for brevity as the Board supplies electricity of two varieties. One is high tension. The other is low tension. Power is generated by hydro electrical method by use of river waters and also by thermal method using coal. The Board fixed quotas for consumption with effect from March 1972 because power generated was not adequate to meet the requirements. For a short period between 7 July, 1972 and 16 August, 1972 these quots were lifted. The rest