JUDGMENT

T.S. Thakur, J. —

1. These appeals by special leave arise out of an order dated 6th June, 2002 passed by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh whereby Writ Petitions No.9081 of 1999 and 13458 of 1993 filed by the appellant have been dismissed and the demand for additional charges/surcharge payable on the delayed payment of outstanding electricity dues raised under Clause 32.2.1 and 34 of the Terms and Conditions of supply (TCS) upheld. Facts necessary for the disposal of these appeals may be summarised as under:

2. The appellant is a public limited company engaged in the manufacture of Ferro Silicon. The industry set up by the appellant is energy intensive in as much as it consumes approximately 10,000 units of electricity for every ton of Ferro Silicon produced. The appellant’s case is that the respondent-Electricity Board had initially agreed to supply power to the appellant @ 6 paise per unit but revised the said rate to 11 paise per unit in the year 1975. The revised rate was in the beginning applicable only to four consumers who were similarly situate but the number of such power intensive consumers gradually rose to 84. On 13th December, 1983 the Board revised the general