Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 2563 Tel
Judgement Date : 25 February, 2025
HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE SUREPALLI NANDA
WRIT PETITION No.5697 of 2025
ORDER:
Heard Sri Deepak Chowdary, learned counsel
appearing on behalf of the petitioner and Sri
N.Sreedhar Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for
TGSPDCL, appearing on behalf of the respondents.
2. The petitioner approached the Court seeking
prayer as under:
"...to pass an order or orders or writ or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of Respondents in issuing demands for payment of Cross Subsidy Surcharge ("CSS") for the FY 2005-06 to 2014-15 vide Lr.No.SE/OP/B'Hills/Hyd/SAO/JAO/HT/D.No. 288/24, Dt.01.02.2025, issued by the 2nd Respondent, purported to be based on the Tariff Order dt.30.08.2024 issued by the Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission determining the CSS for FY 2005-06 to 2014-15, as arbitrary, illegal, contrary to the Judgment dt.19.12.2023 of this Hon'ble Court in W.P.No.14918 of 2006 & batch, provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 besides being violative of the petitioner's rights guaranteed under
SN, J WP_5697_2025
Article 14, 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India and consequently set aside the same and pass such other order or orders as this Hon'ble Court may deems fit and proper in the interest of justice."
3. The case of the petitioner, in brief, is that the petitioner
company is engaged in the hospitality and hotel industry and
avails HT power from the respondent No.1 vide HT Service
Connection No.BJH-588. The petitioner was granted
permission by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh under
Section 43(A)(1)(c) of the Electricity Supply Act, 1948 for
electricity supply through generators M/s. Ind-Barath Energies
Limited. Consequently, consumers of this generator are
entitled for exemption from the payment of Cross Subsidy
Surcharge (CSS) under the Electricity (Removal of Difficulties)
Second Order, 2005. The Telangana Electricity Regulatory
Commission (TGERC) determined the CSS for FY 2005-06 to
2014-15 vide its order dated 30.08.2024. Though the
petitioner is entitled for exemption from CSS under the
Electricity (Removal of Difficulties) Second Order, 2005, the
respondent No.2 issued a demand notice dated 01.02.2025 to
the petitioner, demanding the payment of Rs.4,15,44,013/-
SN, J WP_5697_2025
towards CSS for the period FY 2005-06 to FY 2014-15, which
is contrary to the judgment of this Court dated 19.12.2023 in
W.P. No. 14918 of 2006 and Batch.
4. It is the specific case of the petitioner that the petitioner
had submitted detailed representation dated 17.02.2025 to
the respondent No.2 herein explaining the reasons for
contending that the petitioner is not entitled to pay the cross
subsidy surcharge amount of Rs.4,15,44,013/-, however, the
same had not been considered by the respondent No.2 and
the respondents are insisting the petitioner for payment of the
cross subsidy surcharge amount of Rs.4,15,44,013/- as
indicated in the impugned notice dated 01.02.2025 issued by
the respondent No.2 herein. Aggrieved by the same, the
petitioner filed the present writ petition.
5. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
petitioner submits that the respondent No.2 may be
directed to consider the representation of the petitioner
dated 17.02.2025, which had been acknowledged by
the office of the respondent No.2 herein in accordance
to law within a reasonable period.
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6. Learned Standing Counsel for TGSPDCL appearing on
behalf of the respondents does not dispute the said
submission made by the learned counsel appearing on behalf
of the petitioner.
7. Taking into consideration:
a) The facts and circumstances of the case ,
b) The submissions made by the learned counsel
appearing on behalf of the petitioner and the learned
Standing Counsel for TGSPDCL appearing on behalf of
the respondents and,
c) The contents of the representation of the
petitioner dated 17.02.2025 addressed to the
respondent No.2 herein which had been acknowledged
by the office of the respondent No.2 herein,
The writ petition is disposed of directing the
respondent No.2 to consider the grievance of the
petitioner as put-forth vide petitioner's representation
dated 17.02.2025 submitted by the petitioner in reply
to the impugned notice dated 01.02.2025 issued by the
respondent No.2 and pass appropriate orders on the
said representation within a period of three(3) weeks
SN, J WP_5697_2025
from the date of receipt of a copy of this order in
accordance to law, in conformity with the principles of
natural justice by giving notice to the petitioner and
providing an opportunity of personal hearing to the
petitioner. Till the above exercise is initiated and
concluded by the respondent No.2 herein as per the
directions as indicated as above within the time period
as stipulated as above, respondents are directed not to
take any coercive steps against the petitioner herein in
pursuance to the impugned notice dated 01.02.2025
issued to the petitioner by the respondent No.2 herein.
However, there shall no order as to costs.
The miscellaneous applications, if any, shall stand
closed.
__________________________ MRS JUSTICE SUREPALLI NANDA
Date: 25.02.2025 Lpd
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