Disposed

Abbineni Narayana Rao v. The Chief General Manager (Commercial)

Telangana HC6 Aug 2025WA/657/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Cross writ appeals over whether a premises owner is liable for his lessee's electricity dues and whether the owner's connection could be disconnected without notice. The Division Bench held the owner's disconnection without 15 days' notice improper, restored the connection, set aside the learned Single Judge's order, and left the liability issue open.

What did the court decide?

Disconnection of owner's service connection set aside; company directed to restore supply; writ Court order dated 01.05.2025 set aside; liberty to issue fresh notice; liability question left open.

Abbineni Narayana Rao Vs The Chief General Manager… — Consumer Protection | Telangana HC (2025)

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[³⁴⁸⁸¹

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HIGH COURT FOR^{THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD}

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WEDNESDAY, THE^{SIXTH DAY OF AUGUST} TWO THOUSAND AND^TWENTYFIVE

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE THE^{CHIEF JUSTICEAPARESH KUMAR SINGH} AND THE HONOURABLE SRI^{JUSTICE G.M. MOHIUDDIN}

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WRIT APPEAL^N Os:657^&6920F2025

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W.A.No.657 OF 2025

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writ Appeal under clause^{15 of the Letters Patent against the order dated} 01tOSl2O25 in W.P.No.^{34539 of 2024.on the file of the High Court}

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Between:

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AbbineniNarayanaRao,s/oSriA.Jangaraoagedabout66years'Plot-No 67, H.No. 5-g-i85112,^{Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Balangar, Hyderabad - 500 03/}

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...APPELLANT

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AND

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1 The Chief General^{Manager (Commercial), Telangana SouthernPower} Distribution Company^{Limited, 6-1-50, Ground Floor, Corporateoftice' Mrnt} Compound, Hyderabad^{- 500 063.}

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2 The Suoerintendinq Enqineer,^{OperationCircle, Secunderabad'Telangana} sdrt6-o[ Fo*erbiitriuuiion^{Comrjany Limited, Bowenpally' Secunderabad'}

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3 The Senior Accounts^{Officer,ERO Secunderabad'TelanganaSouthern} Power Distribution Company^{Limited, Bowenpally, Secunderabad'}

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4 The Divisional Engineer,^{Operation,, Bowenpally,Telangana Southern Power} Distribution Comp-ny^{Limited, Secunderabad}

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5 The Assistant Accounts^{Officer,, ERO Bowenpally,TelanganaSouthern} Power Distribution Company^{Limited, Secunderabad-}

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6 The Assistant Divisional^{Engineer, Operation,, RR Nagar,} .^Telangana Soutnern^power Distribution^{Coirpany Limited, Kukatpally, Hyderabad'}

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7 The Assistant Engineer,^{Operation,, IDPL, Telangana} ^Southern^Power Dstribution Compaiy^{Limited. Balanagar, Hyderabad - 500037'}

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The Vidvut Ombudsman for the^{State of Telangana, 33/1 1 S-ub Station'} a"iiol iivd'"ouro eoits^{Club, Lumbini Park, Hvdeiabad - 500063}

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...RESPONDENTS

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lA NO: 1 OF 2025

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Petition under Section 151 cpc praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High court may be pleased please to stay the operatron of the order passed in w.p. No. 34539 of 2024 to the extent of setting aside the award dated 09.09.2024 passed in Appeal No. 20 of 2024- 25 by Honble Vidyut ornbudsman for the State of relangana and consequenfly not to take any coercive ste.ps during the pendency of the writ appeal.

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Counsel for the Appellant : Ms.NISHTHA

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counsel for the Respondents: sRr N.SREEDHAR REDDy, ( sc FoR TGSpDcL)

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W.P.No.692 OF 2025

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writ Appeal under r;lause 15 of the Letters patent against the order dated 01lOSl2025 in W P No 34539 of 2024 on the file of the High Court.

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Between:

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The chief G:nerat I\4anager (commercial), Telangana State southern power Distribution Cornpany Limited (TGSpDCL), MinaC6mp";;al-Hyd;;;i;;;' "'

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The superinterding Engineer, operation, Terangana State southern power Distribution Corrpany Limited (TGSpDCLj, Secunderabad

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The senior r\cc:ounts officer, E.R.o. Bowenpally Terangana State Southern Power Distritrution Company Limited (TGSpObil, SecunEerrOJO^{'- -"-'''}

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4 The Divisionar Fnnineer, operation. Telangana srate Southem power Distribution C:onrpan"y LimiieJficspdbr).'#c"unoeraoao

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The Assistant Accounts officer, ERo, Bowenpaly Terangana State southern Power Distributi :n Company Limited ITGSp-D6[], S"Crnd"r;b;-'"^"""'"'

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The Assistant [)ivisionat Engineer, operation, R R Nagar, Teranoana state Southern^porver Distribution bompany' LimiteO irCSpOC"it,'S;;ffi;;;i;i"

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The Assistant Einoineer, Operatlon/lDpL, Telangana State Southern power Distribution Conrpiny umiteJo lidsHobr_), b"eJrnoeranao

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,..APPELLANTS

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AND

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1 Abbineni Nari:yerna Rao. S/o Abbineni Janga Rao, aged about 70 years Rl/o H.No. 5-3-3:11, Sheshadri Nagar. Near Community Hall. Kukatpally,

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Hyderabad 5Ct0072

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2 .1 Vidyut O_mbudsrnan for the_ State of Telangana, First Floor, 33/1 KV Sub Station, Beside tlyderabad Boar Ctub, Lu;bini p;rk,'tiyderabad

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..RESPONDENTS

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lA NO: 1 OF 2025

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Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to grant interim stay of operation of the adverse order passed by the Learned Single Judge daled 11512025 passed in W P No. 34539 of 2024 in so far as confirming the Award of the 2nd Respondent dated 9/912024 in Appeal No. 23 of 2024-25, pending disposal ofW A No. of 2025.

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Counsel for the Appellants : SRI N.SREEDHAR REDDY, SC FOR TSSPDCL Counsel for the Respondent No.1 : Ms.NISHTHA

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Counsel for the Respondent No.2 : -

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The Court delivered the following: COMMON JUDGMENT

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I'HE I{ON'I}I,[^'I'HI' CTTIT-F .I(,SI'ICE SIU APARESH KTIMAR STNGI{ ,\N D I'TIE HON'BLT] SI(I .IT,STICE G.M.MOHIIIDDTN

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\4'RIT APPEAL Nos. 657 and 692 of 2025

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COMN{O\I .IUDGMENT:

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Heard Sili N. Sreeclhar Redcly., learneil Standing Cor-rnsel fbr^{'I-elan,laria} State SoLrtherrr polver Distribution Company Limited appt:aring lirr thc ri rit petitioncrs/ respondent Nos.I to 7 in W.A.No.657 of 2025iappcllants in W.A.Nct.692 of 2025 and Ms. Nishitha, lealned courrsel tbr the appellant in W.A.No.657 of 2O25/respondcnt No.l in W.A.No.692 of 2025 & Writ Pelition No.l4-539 ot'202.1.

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Bereli c1'ulltccessitr_\ dctails, the short issue involvecl in thc present appeals is ri hethcr tl,rc owneriappellanl in W.A.No.6:i 7 of 2025/rcsponclenr No. I in W.A.No. 692 of 2025 (for short'th,: ou,ner') is liablc to pay thc outstanding ducs of his lessce/co ns uut c r to tilc rcsponder.rt elcctricity company under the provisions of tltc t:lcctr.icit'Act,2003 (for short ,the Act ol200 l'), and rhe (lcncral I'cr.urs & Conditions of Sr-rpply ll-arncd b1 the ,\nclhra I)radc:;h i:lectricirl, l{egLrlator.,r,

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HCJ iAKTS,.I] 6; GNIU,^J w.;\ los aaT and 691or ,lolr

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Commission^{(APEI{C) in 2006, rvhichcontinuesto remaiuirr} force aftcr^{bifurcationoIthe parentState?}

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In,Jisputabll',^{the nolice of disconncction 'was issucd} uporl the^{lessee,M/s. Vleghana Phalma,by the respondent} electricity^{cornpatly on 13.06.2022' The lessee had left the} premises^{by Lhat time. On failure to pay the outstanding dues} by the^{lcssec, the owuer's Servicc Conner:tion No'S6004023} was also^{disconrrected. 'lhe dues were to tlre tune of} Rs.23.8^{1,893i-. At the iustance of the aggrievedowner,the} matter^{travclled to the consumer G|ievanceRedressal F'orunr} ol thc^{Circle concerned and therealler, to tl-re Vidyut} Ombudstnan^{of the respondent electricity company' The} respondent^{electricitycompany being aggrieved by the awarC} of the liorurn^{laid a challengebeforethis courtin writ Petition} No.345-19^{of 2024'}

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-l'he learned ulit Cortft allcr hearing thc parties and on considcratiorr^{of thc plea<lings on record held that the owner is} tiable^{to pay the dues of the lcssee, but, at thc same time, also} l-reld^{that the Service Conrlectionof the orvneris not a link}

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3 .. rir J ilt,i. Jl & (i[t I s \ .,r 657 and 6a2 or 202s

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t, I

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servlce with that ofthe lessee/consuntcr. Being aggrieved bv a part of the orrler dated 01.05.2025 in Writ^petirion No.34539 of 2024, the c,rvner and the electricitl company as- aforesaid, both have prcfi:rred these appeals.

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Consicler,rble argurnents have been advanced on the issue whether the owner is lalling rvithin the meaning of link servlce as per the ciefinition of .consumer, under Section 2(15) of the Act of 2003. Arguments have also been advanced on thc applicability o1' clause 5 2.j of thc General .l.erms & Conditior.rs o1' Supply and also on thc sLrbstituted claLrse 4.g. i under Regulalion No.7 of 20i.3 issuecl b), ApllRC, which rernains in fbrce in the State of .felan-qana as well.

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According r.o the owner, he docs not. have an1. liabilitv fbr payment of thr: dues of his lessec since no indernniry bond has been execute,l rn terrns ol'clause 5.2.-l of the General l'c-nns & Conditions of SLrpply.

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On [he part of the electr.icitt. compan_., ref.er.ence is nrade to the lease agrecrnent betu,een thc ow,ner and the lessee dated 27 .05.2007, c lauses 5 & 6 of u.hich pernritted the lessee to

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IlC.r I \l\jS..l ai (ltr\t .l !l \ Nos 657 an.t 691 ot2O2r

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tal<c connection in his nanrc or the lessor,s nalne.^.l.he electricily colllpanv has taken a stand that in ternrs of the definition of 'corrsulner' under Section 2(15) of the Act ol 2003, the owner also talls u'ithin the definition of .consumer,. Therefore, the ownci. cannot escape the liability.

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The learned writ (lourt has also relcrred to thc definition of 'consumcr' under Section 2(15) of the Act of 2003, arrd clause 8.4 of the Geno.a[^'[errns & Conditions of Supply of APERC and procecded ro hotd as under:

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l6- l'akin r 11[ o considelation:-

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a) I hc afirlcsaid tircts and circumstances of the casc

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b) Thc sLrhntissions put-lbr.th by both tlie learncd counsel on rccord.

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c)^.l'he ar cmrcnts uradc irr the counter affidavit fllcd on behatfol'the l'' respondent,

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d)^-fhc inrpu,rrncd or.dcr of the 2"d rcspondent, datcd 09.09.2024 in Appeal No.20 of l0l'l-25 and Appcal No.23 ol' 2024-25 (r.el'errcd to antl c.rtr-acted abore ).

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c) I he Auard passed hv tltc Consurrcr (iricvances Reclressal lrorutm l[ (Gr.cater

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5 l\ 1 \0s ll.l l 657 .1!irs. aDd .lr l,: 692 O:,1\1. ot 2025J

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(

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Hyderabad Area) (ln shofl^"thc Forum") of Tclangana State. Southern Power DistribLrtion Contpanr [_imircd (rn short^"TGSPI)CI.") in CG.No.29l lOtl 24lSccunderabad C. irc le.

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t) Clause 8.4 ol'Gene ral l'cnns and Conditions of supply ol'l'Glrt{C (rcl-erred to and extracted above).

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il)^Thejudgmenr of the Apex Court reporrcd in 2023 l.ivelarv (SC) +5j iu benveen K.L Ninan v. Kerala State ol f:lcctricitv Board and others passed in Civil Appeal Nos.2 109 anil I I I 0 o12004. riatctl 19.05.2023 (tclerrcd ro and ertr.acrcd abo ve).

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'I'he Writ petition is partly alloued. l-he itnpugned Award dated 09.09.?_024 ol' the 2,,d r.cspondent in so f'ar a:t allowing Appcal No.20 of 2024_25 $ arrants interfcren,;e by this Court in the prcsent w.rir petitiorr anci aocordlngll, the same is set aside and the Auar.d clatcd 09.09.2021 of the 2"d respondent in so fiu. a,. allti..rms Appeal lro.23 ol 2024 wal.l.anrs no inLer.lir.encc br this Court. Ilo,ver..er. tl.rerc shall bc r.ro ot-dcr ils [o costs^..

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We howe'r,er, find that the electricity connection ol the

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owrler has b,:en disconnccted without any notice in terms ol-

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Section 56 ol'ttre Act of 2003 arld also substituted clause 4.g. I Lrnder Regulaticn No.7 of 2013 rvhich stipLrlates I5 davs, clear

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HCJ (AKrS. J)& GUNI, J r\ A Nos 657 and ar92 oi1025

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notice ir.r writing to such^{persorr.Scctions2(15) and 56 of the}

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Act of 2003 are cxtracted hercuuder^{for proper appreciation}

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"2(15) "consumer" tneatts arl<sup>pcrsonrvho is supplicd^with elcctricity for his or'r'n usc^{b1 a liccuseeor thc Governmeut} or by any other^{person engagcdin thcbusitiessof supplying} electricity to the public^{undcrthis Act or any othcr lawfor} the tirne being in lorce^{and ilcludes auy pcrson whose} premises are for the timc^{being conncctedlor the purposeof} receiving electricitl' uith^{thc rvorks ol a licensee. thc} Government or such^{other persoll.as lhc casc l.na)'bel"}

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Disconnection of suppll^{in default of partncnt.}

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(l) Where any person neglccts to^{pa! an) chargetbr} electricity or any^{sunr other than a chargc liir elcctricitydue} from him to a liccnsee or^{the gcttct'ating colllpall)' in rcspect} of supply, transtrission or^{distributionor lvheeling of} electricity to him. tlie^{liccnseeor tliegcnerating company} may, after giving not^{lcssthan 1llteen clear da-vs'uoticeitr} writing, to such^{petsonand uithoutpre.iudice to liis rights to} recover such charge or othcr^{sttttt h1 suit- cut oll'thcsupply} of electricity and^{tbr that purposecut or disconnectany} electlic supply^{line ot othetuorks beitrsthe propertyof such} licensee or the^{generatingcolllpan) throtrglt llrich electricity} may lrave bcen^{supplied. transn)iltcd.distributed or wheeled} and may discontinue^{the suppll untilsuch chargeor other} sum, together^{withany cxpellscsincurred by him in cutting} off and reconnecting^{the supply. are paid. but no longer:}

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Providcd that^thc suppll 'lt^{elecrricit) sliellnot bc cut} oif if sucl-r^{pcrsondcposils.under protest,-} (a) an atnount equal to^{the srttltclaimcd 1}omhittr' or}

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7 : l^(l,l :\hr S. .l) .1. il\1,1..I '.t^{.r \os6i7 and 612 ol-?02.5}

: i t t

I i i

Ii I i l

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(11 tLrc elccLricitl charges due front hinr lbr cach nronrh c.:lcr lated on the basis of average charce lbr clcctr.icitv paid br hinr durir.rg the preceding six rnonths,

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rrlricLreve-r is [css, pending disposal ofanv disput. Lret,,lcen Ir irr r lrrrd tlre Iicensec.

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(f) Notwithstanding anything contained in any orher lau,fbr th,r t me being in force, no sum due tiom anv consumer, ur,der Lhis section shall be recoverable aller the period of lwo ycars liom the date when such sum became lirst cluc Lrnlcss su;h sum has been sholl,n continuouslJr as rcco.,elablc as allcul r-r i' charges tbr electricity supplied ancl ihc liccnscc shrrll lttt cut oll'the suppll,of rlie clcctr-icitr.."

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l0- Clause 4"8.1 of Regulation 1 of 2013 is also extracted

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hereunder

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"-1.8.1. Disconnection duc to non-paymcnt: \,trcrc a cor)sumcr neglects to pay any consumption chargc lbr elcctlicity or any other sum duc from him to a Licensce. bv lhc duc daLe rnentioned in thc bill. in rcspcct ol supplr ol' .n( rqr [o him. thc licensee mar. aliir giving not l!.ss tllan Irftrer (15) clear days'notice in wr-iting to such 1.rc.sori and r.r'ithorrt prejudice to his righls to recover such chalcc. ctLl oll. suppll o1' clectricity and for that purposc disconnccr an). eler:tri : supplv line or other works being the propcrtl of sLrc h licensc:e or thc gencratirrg contpany through which electricitr has br:en supplicd, and may discontinue the supply until suc r. chargc or other sunl, toqcther with any, c\peuses incurrrcl bv him in cutting olf and rcconllecling thc suppl). are paid.

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)

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._ ..- ,.1

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llCJ (lKrS- J) & GI'l\1.^J N .\ \os r,a7 atd 692 oi 20?i

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ln cases of^{all supply connections. rthcrc discotrncctiondatc} for non-paymcnt^{of electricitv charges is nleutioncdin the} bill. a^{separatedisconnection noticeis not rcquired'} Where^{anyconsumcr clefaultsin pavnlenls of (-'harges lcrr the} supply of^{electricity.and ,/ or aul othcr sutlts pal'ableto thc} Compatiy undet^{the colltract of suppl]agrcclllcnt,tlle} Company,^{niay, withoutprejudiccto its othcrrights causc to} disconnect^{all or any of thc othcrserl'icesof the consumer} within thc area^{of supplyof the l-iccnsec' thoughsuch} services bc distincl^{and ate govcrned b)'scpalateagreenlents} and though^{no deiault occurred in respect Lhcrcof "}

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I t. It^{is beyondcavil that ullder thc statutorvrcgirlie' evell} though^{assumingly thc orvner falls r.vithirr the definition of} 'consumer',^{the electricity connectiol.litr the tratne of the} owncr^{would not havebeen disconnectedlbl tlon-paytnent of} alrears^{of electricitydues by thc lessee \ithout propcr llotice} to the^{owner/consumeri.e., thc appellant in W'A No'657 of} 2025. If^{the disconnection of thc electricitl' collnection of the} owner has^{been made withotrt} l)rt)per^{sL-l\ icc o[' lloticeupoll} hirn, 1[re whole^{substratum ol the aciiontaken b1 the electricitl'} company has to^{fall. In suchc irclrll-lstallces} '^{at this stage'} without delving^{into the legal isstrcs raiscd on betralf of both} the parties,^{we are of the considcred opinionthal discontlection}

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rla.; 1lhrs..Jl .li (l\r'.: , ! A ,i: 6J7 a.d 092 o':1,-).

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ol' clectricitl in tlic name of' the owner/consurner havin, cortsLlnter N1r.S6004023 'as not proper ln the eye o1- laii

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Accc-''rdingl,r'. it is set aside. l'he respondent cornpanl, shall lol'thrvith restore the elcctricitv connection to the ow.ner. It 'urould hortcler be open for the electricity colnpany to ISSUC fiesh noticr: upon the owner for payment of the alleged dues ol his lessec, lamcly, Meghana Pharma, and depenciing upon tlre replv subnrittt:d by consumer,/owner, take a decision thereuporr irr accordancc u il-li larv, rvithin the stipulated tinte.

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[n vir:rv of what has been held hereinabove, the order datcd 0l 05.2025 passed by the learned writ Court in Wr.ir I)ctitinn No.l-1539 oI 2024 cannot be allorvecj to stand. ,\ccordingl',. it is set aside. The issue raised in tl.rc appcal is lcli opcn to be- clcciclcd in the appropriate casc.

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I he Writ Appcals arc disposed of as afore-stated.^'[hcre shall be no ordcr as to costs.

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.r-

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'\l.

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il(.1 \i!rS. Jr a': G\111. i 10 ! A \os 6tr, a.'l 6()J^('l 20li

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Misccllaneous applications, if any pending, shall^stand

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closed.

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//TRUE COPY//

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SD/.N. SRIHARI , DEPUTY REGISTRAR &

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SECTION OFFICER

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To,

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The Chief General Manager (Commercial),^{Telangana Southern Power} Distribution Company Limited,6-1-50,^{Ground Floor, Corporate Office, I/int} Compound, Hyderabad^- 500 063.

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