Quashed

Rseb Jaipur and Ors. v. Bhat Samaj Pali

Rajasthan HC27 Aug 2022CSA/143/1996

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

In this second appeal, the High Court quashed the lower courts' reliance on Section 26(2) of the Indian Electricity Act. The court held that when a meter is merely out of order, the defect-free provisions do not apply; instead, billing under Schedule 19(d)(vii) of the General Conditions is the sole remedy.

What did the court decide?

Impugned orders quashing the assessment under Section 26(2) are set aside; consequential orders affirmed as non-maintainable in law.

Rseb Jaipur and Ors. Vs Bhat Samaj Pali — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Rajasthan HC (2022)

¶1

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR

¶2

S.B. Civil Second Appeal No. 143/1996

¶3

Rajasthan State Electricity Board, Vidhyut Bhawan, Jaipur.

¶4

The Executive Engineer (O&M) Rajasthan State Electricity Board, Pali.

¶5

The Assistant Engineer (O&M), R.S.E.B. Pali.

¶6

----Appellants Versus

¶7

Bhat Samaj, Pali through its representative Babulal S/o Suaji, B/c Bhat, Resident of Pali.

¶8

----Respondent

¶9

For Appellant(s) : Mr. Ravi Bhansali, Sr. Advocate Mr. Dhanesh Saraswat Mr. Dipendra Singh Rao For Respondent(s) :

¶10

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MADAN GOPAL VYAS Judgment

¶11

Pronounced on 27/08/2022

¶12

01/kkjk 100 flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk ds rgr ;g flfoy f}rh; vihy vihykFkhZx.k us fo}ku flfoy U;k;k/kh'k ¼ofj"B [k.M½] ikyh ds }kjk nhokuh vihy fMØh la[;k 5@1995 lgk;d vfHk;ark] vkj-,l-bZ-ch-] ikyh vkfn cuke HkkV lekt] ikyh esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 30-07-1995 ds fo:) izLrqr dh gS] ftlds }kjk fo}ku izFke vihyh; U;k;ky; us vihykFkhZx.k dh vihy vLohdkj dh rFkk fo}ku fopkj.k eqfUlQ ,oa U;kf;d eftLVªsV] izFke oxZ] ikyh ds }kjk ewy nhokuh izdj.k la[;k 44@1988 HkkV lekt] ikyh cuke jktLFkku jkT; fo|qr eaMy vkfn esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 15 ekpZ] 1994 dh iqf"V dhA

¶13

(2 of 7) [CSA-143/1996]

¶14

02eSaus ;ksX; vf/koDrk vihykFkhZx.k dh cgl lquh] vk{ksfir fu.kZ; o vfHkys[k dk voyksdu fd;kA

¶15

03;ksX; vf/koDrk vihykFkhZx.k us ;g rdZ fn;k fd okn&i= ds iSjk la[;k 3 ds vuqlkj izfroknh la[;k 2 }kjk fnukad 09-02-1988 dks tuojh] Qjojh] nks ekg dh jkf'k 60-05@&:i;s] cdk;k jkf'k 4112-60@&:i;s vkSj fo|qr dj 294-29@&:i;s] dqy 4466-94@&:i;s dk fcy tkjh fd;kA Qjojh ds fcy ds vuqlkj okLrfod ns; jkf'k 60-05@&:i;s gh gksrh gSA izfroknhx.k us vius tokc nkos ds iSjk la[;k 3 esa ;g vafdr fd;k gS fd oknhx.k ds ;gka LFkkfir ehVj fnukad 19-11-1985 ls 20-11-1987 rd] dqy 24 ekg Out of order jgkA Rajasthan State Electricity Board, Jaipur ds }kjk tkjh Notification – General conditions of supply and scale of miscellaneous charges relating to the supply of electricity ds fcUnq la[;k 19(d)(vii) ds vuqlkj vkSlr ds vk/kkj ij cdk;k jkf'k fudkyh xbZ gS] ftldk fooj.k tokc nkos ds iSjk la[;k 3 esa vafdr fd;k x;k gSA ehVj Out of order gksus ij /kkjk 26¼6½ Indian Electricity Act, 1910 ds izko/kku ykxw ugha gksrs gSa] cfYd General conditions of supply and scale of miscellaneous charges relating to the supply of electricity ds fcUnq la[;k 19(d)(vii) ds izko/ kku ykxw gksrs gSaA ehVj Out of order gksrk gS rks mldks Stopped ehVj dh Js.kh esa ekuk tkrk gSA Out of order vkSj Stopped ehVj] nksuksa leku gksrs gSaA tc Stopped ehVj gksrk gS rc Billing Authority ;k Vigilance checking Officer dks Average consumption ds vk/kkj ij fo|qr miHkksx dh jkf'k dk fcy tkjh djus dk vf/kdkj gksrk gSA izdj.k fo|qr fujh{kd dks ugha Hkstk tkrk gSA fo|qr fujh{kd dks izdj.k rc Hkstk tkrk gS] tc ehVj Correct ugha gksA Correct ehVj o Stopped ehVj esa varj gksrk gSA tks ehVj Correct ugha gksrk gS] og fo|qr miHkksx dh jkf'k de ;k T;knk

¶16

(3 of 7)

¶17

[CSA-143/1996]

¶18

nf'kZr djrk gSA ysfdu Stopped ehVj fo|qr miHkksx fcYdqy nf'kZr ugha djrk gSA fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; o fo}ku izFke vihyh; U;k;ky; us /kkjk 26¼6½ Indian Electricity Act, 1910 ds izko/kkuksa dks gLrxr izdj.k esa iz;ksT; ekudj fof/kd ,oa rF;kRed Hkwy dh gS] blfy, vk{ksfir vkns'k vikLr fd, tkus dk fuosnu fd;kA mUgksaus vius bu rdksZa dh iqf"V esa AIR 1988 SUPREME COURT 71 M.P.E.B. and others Versus Smt. Basantibai dh ut+hj is'k dh] ftldk eSaus voyksdu fd;kA

¶19

04eSaus mi;qZDr rdksZa ij fopkj fd;kA bl U;k;ky; dh vknsf'kdk fnukad 17-07-1996 ds }kjk vihy] fof/k ds fuEufyf[kr lkjHkwr iz'u ij lquokbZ gsrq Admit dh xbZ gS %&

¶20

"Whether, in the facts and circumstances of the case, and on the basis of the pleadings of the parties the provision of section 26(2), Indian Electricity Act, 1910 is attracted ?"

¶21

05;ksX; vf/koDrk vihykFkhZx.k us ;g rdZ fn;k fd fof/k ds lkjHkwr iz'u ds fcUnq esa Indian Electricity Act, 1910 dh /kkjk 26¼2½ =qfVo'k vafdr gqbZ gSA ewy vihy esa /kkjk 26¼6½ vafdr gSA vr% Indian Electricity Act, 1910 dh /kkjk 26¼2½ ds LFkku ij /kkjk 26¼6½ gLrxr izdj.k esa lqlaxr ,oa egRoiw.kZ gSA

¶22

06eSaus Indian Electricity Act, 1910 dh /kkjk 26 dk voyksdu fd;kA okLro esa gLrxr izdj.k esa /kkjk 26¼2½ dk iz'u vUrxZzLr gksuk n`f"Vxr ugha gksrk gS cfYd /kkjk 26¼6½ dk gh iz'u vUrxZzLr gSA Indian Electricity Act, 1910 dh /kkjk 26¼6½ ds izko/kku fuEu izdkj ls gS %&

¶23

"Where any difference or dispute arises as to whether any meter referred to in sub-section (1) is or is not correct, the matter shall be decided, upon the application of either party, by an Electrical Inspector; and where the meter has, in the

¶24

(4 of 7)

¶25

[CSA-143/1996]

¶26

opinion of such Inspector ceased to be correct, such Inspector shall estimate the amount of the energy supplied to the consumer or the electrical quantity contained in the supply, during such time, not exceeding six months, as the meter shall not, in the opinion of such Inspector, have been correct; but save as aforesaid, the register of the meter shall, in the absence of fraud, be conclusive proof of such amount of quantity:"

¶27

07bl izdkj ehVj Correct ugha gksus ij] nksuksa esa ls fdlh i{k ds vkosnu ij Electrical Inspector ds }kjk fo|qr lIykbZ dh jkf'k vkSj ehVj lgh gS ;k ugha] ;g fofuf'pr fd;k tkrk gSA

¶28

08Correct ehVj ugha gksuk vkSj ehVj Out of order gksus esa vUrj gSA Out of order ehVj dk rkRi;Z& ehVj fcYdqy dke ugha djrk gSA Out of order ehVj fo+|qr miHkksx dh ;wfuV ugha crkrk gSA Out of order ehVj] ,d izdkj ls Stopped ehVj gksrk gSA Stopped ehVj dh n'kk esa General conditions of supply and scale of miscellaneous charges relating to the supply of electricity ds fcUnq la[;k 19(d) (vii) ds vuqlkj fo+|qr miHkksx dh ;wfuV dks r; djus dk vf/kdkj Billing Authority ;k Vigilance checking Officer dks gksrk gSA bl laca/k esa General conditions of supply and scale of miscellaneous charges relating to the supply of electricity ds fcUnq la[;k 19(d)(vii) ds izko/kku fuEuizdkj ls gS %&

¶29

"(vii) In the event of the meter being out of order i.e. burnt/stopped or having ceased to function (except percentage of defect) for any reason during any month/months the consumption for that month/months shall be assessed by the billing authority or by the vigilance checking Officer, as the case may be, as mentioned hereunder:-

¶30

(5 of 7)

¶31

[CSA-143/1996]

¶32

The quantity of electricity supplied during the period in which the meter stopped/burnt/ceased to function, shall be determined by taking average of the consumption, recorded during the three months or twelve months, whichever is higher, immediately preceding the month in which the said meter stopped/burnt/ceased to function.

¶33

In case seasonal factories in the event of the meter being out of order i.e., stopped/ burnt/ceased to function during any month/months, the consumption for that month/months, will be assessed on the basis of the average consumption of the preceding season.

¶34

In case of agriculture consumers, the average charging for the month/months the meter is or has been out of order, brunt/stopped or is not or has not been functioning shall be on the rates applicable to flat rate agriculture consumers."

¶35

09ehVj Out of order gksus ij mi;qZDr General conditions of supply and scale of miscellaneous charges relating to the supply of electricity ds fcUnq la[;k 19(d)(vii) ds izko/kku ykxw gksrs gSaA

¶36

10Indian Electricity Act, 1910 dh /kkjk 26¼6½ esa eq[;r% ehVj Correct gS ;k ugha] bl laca/k esa gS vkSj bl laca/k esa fofu'p; dk vf/kdkj Electrical Inspector dks gSA ehVj Correct gS ;k ugha] ;g fcUnq mu ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa mRiUu gksrk] tc ehVj jhfMax rks nsrk gS ysfdu og jhfMax de ;k T;knk n'kkZrk gSA ehVj out of order ;k Stopped gksus dh

¶37

(6 of 7)

¶38

[CSA-143/1996]

¶39

fLFkfr esa Indian Electricity Act, 1910 dh /kkjk 26¼6½ ds izko/kku ykxw ugha gksrs gSaA

¶40

11fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; ,oa fo}ku izFke vihyh; U;k;ky; us bl laca/k esa Indian Electricity Act, 1910 dh /kkjk 26¼6½ ds izko/kkuksa dh O;k[;k lgh izdkj ls ugha dh gSA gLrxr izdj.k Indian Electricity Act, 1910 dh /kkjk 26¼6½ ls 'kkflr ugha gksrk gS cfYd General conditions of supply and scale of miscellaneous charges relating to the supply of electricity ds fcUnq la[;k 19(d)(vii) ls 'kkflr gksrk gSA ,slh ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa fo|qr miHkksx dh jkf'k dh lax.kuk dk vf/kdkj Billing Authority ;k Vigilance checking Officer dks gksrk gSA fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; vkSj fo}ku izFke vihyh; U;k;ky; us General conditions of supply and scale of miscellaneous charges relating to the supply of electricity ds fcUnq la[;k 19(d)(vii) ds izko/kkuksa dk dksbZ foospu ugha djds fof/kd Hkwy dh gSA

¶41

12fo}ku izFke vihyh; U;k;ky; us vk{ksfir fu.kZ; esa ;g vafdr fd;k gS fd Indian Electricity Act, 1910 dh /kkjk&26 mi/kkjk&1 ds rgr miyC/k djk;k x;k ehVj fo|qr miHkksx dh ek=k dks ntZ ugha dj jgk gS mu ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa Hkh ekeyk fo|qr fujh{kd dks r; djus gsrq lqiqnZ fd;k tkuk pkfg,A ysfdu ;g fu"d"kZ mi;qZDr foospu ds ifjizs{; esa mfpr ,oa fof/klEer ugha gSA

¶42

13dqy feykdj] mi;qZDr foospu ds ifj.kkeLo:i fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; ,oa fo}ku izFke vihyh; U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vk{ksfir fu.kZ; vuqfpr] voS/k ,oa fof/k fo#) gS] blfy, nksuksa v/khuLFk U;k;ky;ksa ds vk{ksfir fu.kZ; fLFkj jgus ;ksX; ugha gSA

¶43

14ifj.kker% vihykFkhZx.k dh vksj ls izLrqr ;g vihy Lohdkj dh tkdj fo}ku flfoy U;k;k/kh'k ¼ofj"B [k.M½] ikyh ds }kjk nhokuh

¶44

(7 of 7) [CSA-143/1996]

¶45

vihy fMØh la[;k 5@1995 lgk;d vfHk;ark] vkj-,l-bZ-ch-] ikyh vkfn cuke HkkV lekt] ikyh esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 30-07-1995 ,oa eqfUlQ ,oa U;kf;d eftLVªsV] izFke oxZ] ikyh ds }kjk ewy nhokuh izdj.k la[;k 44@1988 HkkV lekt] ikyh cuke jktLFkku jkT; fo|qr eaMy vkfn esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 15 ekpZ] 1994 vikLr fd, tkrs gSaA izR;FkhZ oknh dk nkok [kkfjt fd;k tkrk gSA

¶46

[kpsZa ds ckjs esa dksbZ vkns'k ugha fn;k tkrk gSA

¶47

15bl fu.kZ; dh izfr lfgr nksuksa v/khuLFk U;k;ky;ksa dk vfHkys[k 'kh?kz izsf"kr gksA

¶48

(MADAN GOPAL VYAS),J

¶49

6-Rajendra/-

¶50

;g vkns'[email protected]; Hkkjrh; lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 348 (i) ds rgr Hkkjr ljdkj dh vf/klwpuk jkti= la[;k 1] fnuakd 2 tuojh 1999 ,oa jktLFkku jkti= fnukafdr 10-3-1971 ds rgr fgUnh Hkk"kk ds iz;ksx dk s izkf/kd`r fd, tkus ds ifj.kkeLo:i fgUnh Hkk"kk esa fy[kk;k x;kA

Rseb Jaipur and Ors. v. Bhat Samaj Pali

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Rseb Jaipur and Ors. v. Bhat Samaj Pali

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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