The court mandated a 50% provisional payment for restoration of electricity supply pending adjudication of theft allegations under the Indian Electricity Act, 2003.

ORDER:

Hear d Sr i Ban di Sai Vam sh i, lear n ed cou n sel appear in g on beh alf of t h e pet it ion er , lear n ed Assist an t Gover n m en t Pleader for En er gy, appear in g on beh alf of t h e r espon den t No.1 an d Sr i R. Vin od Reddy , lear n ed St an din g Cou n sel for TGSPDCL appear in g on beh alf of t h e r espon den t Nos.2 an d 3 . 2 .

Th e pet it ion er appr oach ed t h e Cou r t seek in g pr ay er as u n der :

“… to issue a writ or order or direction more particularly in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents especially respondent No.2 in issuing the impugned notice vide Lr. No. ADE/ Op/ Asmg / D- 10/ C-8/ D.No.1640/ 24 Dated 30-10-2024 is being illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional and voilative of principle of natural justice and contrary to the provisions of Indian Electricity Act , 2003 and consequently this Honble Court may please to suspend the impugned notice vide Lr. No. ADE/ Op/ Asmg/ D- 10/ C-8/ D.No.1640/ 24, dated 30-10-2024 issued by the respondent No.2 pending disposal of the present writ petition and pass such other order or orders as deem fit in the interest of the justice”.

3 . The specific case of the petitioner is that he is the owner and possessor of the property bearing No.16-1-483/ 1/ 1, Saidabad, Hyderabad. Respondent No.2 issued proceedings Lr.No.ADE/ Op/ Asmg/ D-10/ C-8/ DNo.1640/ 24 dated 30.10.2024 to the petitioner stating that the electricity meter of the subject premises was found tampered and the meter phase CC turns found reduced and the petitioner is indulged in theft of energy and caused loss of revenue to TGSPDCL and a theft case is booked against the petitioner. Aggrieved by the impugned notice dated 30.10.2024 the petitioner filed the present writ petition.

4 .  Sri R.Vinod Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for TGSPDCL appearing on behalf of the respondent Nos.2 and 3 submits that petitioner has to deposit half of the amount provisionally assessed vide impugned notice dated 30.10.2024 i.e. Rs.44,105.5 paise upon the petitioner depositing 50% of the assessed amount, respondents would restore the electricity power supply pertaining to Service Connection No.P3018759 of petitioner’s property bearing

H.No.16-1-483/ 1/ 1, Saidabad, Hyderabad, Telangana State and the matter would be referred to the competent Special Court under Section 154(5) of the Electricity Act, 2003.

5 . Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner does not dispute the said submission made by the learned Standing Counsel, appearing on behalf of the respondent

Nos.2 and 3. 6 . Tak in g in t o con sider at ion : ( a)

Th e fact s an d cir cu m st an ces of t h e case, ( b)

Th e su bm ission s m ade by t h e lear n ed cou n sel appear in g on beh alf of t h e pet it ion er an d t h e lear n ed St an din g Cou n sel appear in g on beh alf of t h e r espon den t Nos.2 an d 3 , Th e w r it pet it ion is disposed of dir ect in g t h e pet it ion er t o deposit 5 0 % of t h e am ou n t assessed pr ov ision ally v ide t h e im pu gn ed pr ovision al assessm en t n ot ice vide Lr .No.ADE/ Op/ Asm g/ D-1 0 / C-8 / D.No.1 6 4 0 / 2 4 , dat ed 3 0 .1 0 .2 0 2 4 issu ed by t h e r espon den t No.2 t o t h e pet it ion er h er ein i.e., an am ou n t of Rs.4 4 ,1 0 5 .5 paise w it h in a per iod of on e( 1 ) w eek fr om t h e dat e of r eceipt of a copy of t h is or der an d soon aft er t h e deposit of t h e said am ou n t , r espon den t s sh all for t h w it h r est or e t h e pow er su pply con n ect ion t o Ser vice Con n ect ion No.P3 0 1 8 7 5 9 per t ain in g t o pet it ion er ’s pr oper t y bear in g H.No.1 6 -1 - 4 8 3 / 1 / 1 , Saidabad, Hyder abad, Telan gan a St at e an d t h e r espon den t s sh all fu r t h er r efer t h e su bj ect issu e t o t h e com pet en t Special Cou r t for det er m in at ion of t h e civ il liabilit y u n der Sect ion 1 5 4 ( 5 ) of t h e Elect r icit y Act , 2 0 0 3 , w it h in t h r ee w eek s ( 0 3 ) t