JUDGMENT

Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, J.

1. The petitioner no.1 claiming to be a federation of 118 Cooperative Group Housing Societies located at Indraprastha Extension, Patparganj, Delhi and petitioners no.2 to 5 being some of the members of the petitioner no.1 have filed this writ petition for quashing of the Circulars dated 28/29th January, 2005 and 7th April, 2005 of the respondent no.2 Delhi Jal Board (DJB) levying 'service charge' on the societies which are members of the petitioner no.1. The grievance of the petitioners is that the respondent DJB is seeking to recover, what was earlier called as 'access charge' and now called 'service charge' on the basis of number of dwelling units/flats in each Society, though a single bulk water supply connection is provided to each Society and not separate connections to each dwelling unit/flat in each Society. It is contended that each Society has itself made arrangements for storage of water from the single connection and for supply of water to each dwelling unit/flat.

2. Notice of the writ petition was issued and vide interim order dated 20th May, 2005 which continues to be in force, the respondent DJB was directed not to insist upon payme