K. N. SETH, J. :- The petitioners entered into separate but identical agreements with the U.P. State Electricity Board for supply of electrical energy for industrial purposes. At that time the rate schedule of 1972 framed by the Board under S.49 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) was in force. The relevant rate schedule applicable to the petitioners was Rate Schedule HV-28. By a notification dated Oct. 12, 1974 the Board, in exercise of powers under S.49 of the Act, issued revised rate schedules for supply of electricity. Besides revising the rates for demand charge, energy charge etc., a charge called minimum consumption guarantee charge was introduced for large and heavy consumers, the category to which the petitioners belong. In these petitions validity of the revised rates in the tariff as also imposition of the minimum consumption guarantee charge has been challenged. During the course of hearing it was conceded that the dispute regarding charges other than minimum consumption guarantee charge was covered by the arbitration clause of the agreement and only the validity of the minimum consumption guarantee charge was pressed for