COMMON JUDGMENT:

V. ESWARAIAH

Heard Mr. N. Subba Reddy, learned senior counsel for Mr Chandraiah Sunkara, Mr. M Venkata Ram Reddy, Mr. Peeta Raman, Mr. D.L. Pandu, Mr K.V.N.Bhupal, Mr D.Balkishan Rao, Mr V.Venkata Mayur and Mr R.Rajesh Netha for the writ petitioners and Mr A.K.Jayaprakash and Mr S Ravindranath for appeallants in writ appeals and the learned Advocate General appearing for the Government, A.P.Transco and four distribution companies and Mr.G.Vidyasagar, learned counsel.

A simple issue has been complicated at various levels by various authorities, consequential of which, the present batch of writ petitions and writ appeals are filed.

The Indian Electricity Act, 1910 created the basic frame work for electricity supply industry in India and thereafter Electricity Supply Act, 1948 mandated the creation of the State Electricity Boards. The State Electricity Board has a responsibility of arranging the supply of electricity in the State. Thereafter Electricity Act, 2003 came into force and with subsequent amendments consolidating the law relating to generation, transmission, distribution, trading and use of electricity in India.

The erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Stat