Ankuj Rana and Others Vs State of Punjab… — Writ and Judicial Review | Punjab & Haryana HC (2025)

Ankuj Rana and Others Vs State of Punjab… — Writ and Judicial Review | Punjab & Haryana HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Disposed

Issue for consideration

Whether a mandamus should be issued to the official respondents to implement the Government of Punjab scheme providing free 600 electricity units to domestic users (Commercial Circular No.19/2022, Memo No.233/238/SV-190 dated 23.08.2022) in favour of the petitioners and other residents of Sushma Joynest MOH-1, Airport Road, PR-7, Village Chat, Zirakpur, SAS Nagar, Mohali.

Court's answer

In view of the specific stand taken by learned counsel for respondents no.5 to 7 that the petitioners' grievance has been redressed (second fresh franchisee agreement executed on 29.07.2024; distribution licensee stepped into the developer's shoes on 03.03.2025; free domestic electricity units scheme to be implemented in future), no further direction is required to be passed in the present writ petition, which is accordingly disposed of.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

WRIT PETITION (CWP-1300-2024(O&M)), High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh, decided 01.04.2025 by Kuldeep Tiwari, J. — Petitioners (Ankuj Rana & others, residents of Sushma Joynest MOH-1, Airport Road, PR-7, Village Chat, Zirakpur, SAS Nagar, Mohali) filed a petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, in the nature of mandamus, seeking directions to the official respondents to implement the Government of Punjab scheme providing free 600 electricity units to domestic users as per Commercial Circular No.19/2022, Memo No.233/238/SV-190 dated 23.08.2022 (Annexure P-1) and the letter bearing Memo No.481506/Draft Franchisee Agreement, 2021 dated 04.05.2023 (Annexure P-2). Counsel for respondents no.5 to 7 (the distribution licensee, PSPCL) stated on instructions that the grievance stood redressed: the developer (respondent no.9) had initially entered into a franchisee agreement on 01.07.2021 under which collective bills were issued to the developer; a second fresh franchisee agreement was executed on 29.07.2024; the distribution licensee stepped into the developer's shoes on 03.03.2025; and the first independent meter readings of the petitioners had been taken, with the free-units scheme to be implemented in future. Held: in view of this stand, no further direction was required; the writ petition was disposed of.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

(142+269)

CWP-1300-2024(O&M) Date of Decision: 01.04.2025

Ankuj Rana & others

--Petitioners

Versus

State of Punjab & others CORAM:- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI.

--Respondents

Present:Ms. Amarjit Kaur, Advocate for the petitioners.

Mr. Teevar Sharma, AAG, Punjab for respondents no.1 to 4.

Mr. G.S. Sethi, Advocate for respondents no.5 to 7. ***

KULDEEP TIWARI.J (Oral)

CM-4571-CWP-2025

Application for placing on record documents at Annexures P- 12 to P-14 is allowed, subject to just exceptions.

Main Case

The instant petition has been filed under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India specially in the nature of Mandamus for issuance of directions to the official respondents for implementation of Govt. of Punjab scheme for providing free 600 electricity units to the domestic users as per Commercial Circular No.19/2022, Memo No.233/238/SV-190 dated 23.08.2022 (Annexure P-1) and further letter bearing Memo No.481506/Draft Franchisee Agreement, 2021 dated 04.05.2023 (Annexure P-2) to the petitioners and all other residents of Sushma Joynest MOH-1, Airport Road, PR-7, Village Chat, Zirakpur, SAS Nagar, Mohali.

LUCKY 2025.04.04 09:25 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document High Court chandigarh

CWP-1300-2024(O&M)

-2-

Upon notice in the instant petition, Mr. G.S. Sethi, Advocate caused appearance on behalf of distribution licensee i.e. respondents no.5 to 7-PSPCL. He, on instructions from Mr. Hemant Kumar, Executive Engineer, PSPCL, Zirakpur submits that prayer made in the instant petition has been rendered infructuous as the grievance of the petitioner has already been redressed. Counsel submits that initially respondent no.9, who is the developer, entered into first franchisee agreement with the distribution licensee on 01.07.2021, and at that moment the collective bill was being issued to the developer, and upon enforcement of the subsidy policy, the developer was required to enter into the fresh franchisee agreement, thus, enabling the distribution licensee has to step into their shoes, which was not done at an earlier stage, but now the second fresh franchisee agreement was duly executed way back on dated 29.07.2024. Thereupon, the relevant application was moved, and now the respondent-distribution licensee has stepped into the shoes of the developer on dated 03.03.2025 for the purpose of providing electricity, and today the first independent meter readings of the petitioners have been taken. It is further submitted that in account of the action taken by the distribution licensee, grievance of the petitioners has been addressed, as in future the scheme providing free domestic electricity units to the petitioners will be implemented.

In view of the specific stand taken by learned counsel for respondents no.5 to 7, no further direction is required to be passed in the present writ petition and the same is, accordingly, disposed of.

The petition is disposed of.

01.04.2025 (KULDEEP TIWARI) lucky JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether Reportable: Yes/No

LUCKY 2025.04.04 09:25 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document High Court chandigarh