THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No.641 of 2018

ORDER:

Sri B. Balaji, learned Legal Aid Counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner had established a small-scale industry at Unit No. 54, Industrial Guild, Mallepally, Hyderabad, in the year 1971 and obtained electricity through Consumer Service No.C2004173 with Three Phase Meter PR.No. 20102012425. He submits that the said service connection was disconnected after the meter got burnt in the year 2014 but was restored only pursuant to the interim orders of this Court passed in W.P.No.11945 of 2016, upon deposit of Rs.25,000/-by the petitioner. He submits that despite the petitioner’s efforts to restore the power supply and compliance with the earlier directions of this Court in W.P.No.11945 of 2016, the respondents again disconnected the service connection without issuing regular bills or notice and abruptly demanded Rs.2,00,000/- towards monthly minimum charges, in violation of Section 56(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003. He further submits that such demand is illegal since no proper meter was provided for years and that levy of minimum charges without consumption or notice is unsustainable.

2. On the