JUDGMENT

B. P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.:—Leave granted.

2. The respondent, Ludhiana Steel Private Limited is a consumer of electricity. It had entered into an agreement with the Punjab State Electricity Board for supply of energy and was availing it. The meter installed at the respondents premises was checked on 6-4-1987. It was found that it was recording lower consumption than what was actually being consumed. Sometime later, a check meter was installed (on 16-5-1988) and, we are told, the petitioner has been paying the charges on the basis of the readings recorded by the check-meter. For the period commencing 6-10-1986 (six months prior to the date of check) up to 16-5-1988 (the date on which the check-meter was installed) the Board sent a bill dated 16-8-1988 in a sum of Rs.28,56,854/- towards the energy said to have been consumed by the plaintiff but not recorded by the meter. Contesting the said bill, the plaintiff instituted a suit asking for a permanent injunction restraining the Board and its officials from recovering the said amount or any part thereof on the basis of the said bill. In that suit, he applied for a temporary injunction which was granted initially but vacated later.