Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948

Karam Chand, a Scheduled Caste clerk, was promoted in 1973 to Deputy Superintendent of the Haryana State Electricity Board under a reservation quota. The promotion order contained a note that the promotion would not confer seniority over others, and the Board later fixed his seniority based on inter‑se seniority in his…

Hari Bansh Lal, appointed Chairman of the Jharkhand State Electricity Board, faced a Public Interest Litigation filed by Sahodar Prasad Mahto alleging arbitrariness, doubtful integrity and age incapacity. The High Court quashed the appointment, relying on a note by the Chief Secretary suggesting prior suspension and a …

The respondent, an Assistant Law Officer of the Haryana State Electricity Board, was charge‑sheeted under Regulation 7 of the Board's Punishment and Appeal Regulations for a alleged major breach. After submitting three replies, the Board, satisfied with his explanations, chose to impose only a minor penalty—stopping on…

The Haryana State Electricity Board (the Board) awarded a cleaning contract to a contractor, Kashmir Singh, who supplied 42 safai karamcharis. After the workers completed more than 240 days of service, they claimed permanent absorption under Section 10 of the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970. The Labo…

K. Suri Babu, a helper (workman) employed by Nuclear Fuel Complex, Hyderabad, was alleged to have submitted a forged Class VI certificate and disciplinary action was initiated under the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965 (CCA Rules). The respondent contended that, as a workman, disc…

The Supreme Court examined three sets of appeals filed by Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd. (APTRANSCO) against orders of the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) fixing wheeling charges, grid support charges, and the continuation of incentives for non‑conventional energy. The Court he…

The Haryana State Electricity Board (HSEB) unilaterally raised the security deposit required from industrial consumers—both the per‑kilowatt security and the meter security—under its standard contract. The petitioners challenged the increase, arguing that the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 and its rules do not authoriz…

The Electricity Employment Union and two employees challenged the Central Administrative Tribunal's finding that, after the Punjab Re‑organisation Act, 1966, their services were allocated to the Punjab State Electricity Board and they were merely on deputation to the Union Territory of Chandigarh. They argued that Sect…

The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) appointed respondent No.4 as Project Engineer (Electrical) on deputation from the U.P. Power Corporation in February 2014 and later absorbed him in May 2015. The appellants, who were Assistant Project Engineers, challenged the appointment and absorption, arguing th…

M/s Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd and other industrial units set up caustic soda plants in Tamil Nadu and were promised a concessional electricity tariff for the first five years by a government letter dated 29‑06‑1976. After the Tamil Nadu Revision of Tariff Rates on Supply of Electrical Energy Act, 1978 came int…

Associated Power Co. Ltd., an electricity generation and distribution company, appropriated Rs 46,460 to a Contingency Reserve as required by the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 and claimed it as a deduction for the assessment year 1973‑74. The Income Tax Officer rejected the claim; the Appellate Assistant Commissioner …

U.P. Hotels entered into a bulk‑supply agreement with Agra Electric Supply Co. which was later taken over by the U.P. State Electricity Board (SEB). The SEB unilaterally imposed a uniform tariff under section 49 of the Electricity Supply Act, 1949, withdrawing agreed discounts. The dispute was referred to arbitration; …

The Supreme Court examined three writ petitions filed under Article 226 seeking compensation for deaths caused by electrocution from live wires owned by the Grid Corporation of Orissa (GRIDCO). The High Court had awarded compensation on the basis that the snapped wires and resulting deaths amounted to negligence on the…

Oswal Woolen Mills Ltd., an industrial electricity consumer, was subjected to a 17.5% surcharge by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) under circulars dated 21‑Jan‑1991 and 03‑May‑1991, which stipulated payment until the mill upgraded its supply from 11 kV to 33 kV or higher. The mill challenged the levy, arguing…

Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL) appealed against the Maharashtra State Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (MERC) order quashing several pre‑1999 circulars that imposed "take‑or‑pay" and minimum off‑take obligations on captive power plant (CPP) holders and directing MSEDCL to refund amounts…

The Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) appealed against a High Court order directing it to refund excess amounts charged to two high‑tension consumers under a 1994 agreement. The consumers had paid the bills under protest, arguing that after the Electricity Act, 2003, tariff power shifted exclusively to the State…

The appellants, R. Balakrishna Pillai (former Minister for Electricity, Kerala) and P. Kesava Pillai (Technical Member/Chairman of KSEB), were convicted under Section 5(2) read with Section 5(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly selling 1,22,41,440 units of Kerala electricity to Mis. Graphite India L…

Graphite India Ltd. obtained electricity from Durgapur Projects Ltd. (DPL), a sanction‑holder under Section 28 of the Electricity Act, 1910. DPL revised its tariff in 1991, 1993 and 1995, giving only a two‑day short notice and seeking State Government approval after the fact; Graphite challenged the revisions in three …

The Bihar State Electricity Board, facing losses from electricity theft and defective meters, issued a notification under Sections 46 and 49 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 to bill industrial consumers at prescribed load factors. Consumers challenged the notification, arguing it conflicted with the terms of their…

The Hirakud Dam Project was taken over by the State Government in 1960, and workmen employed before 1‑April‑1960 were transferred to various departments, including the Orissa State Electricity Board. The Board’s regulations prescribed a superannuation age of 58 years, but under Section 60 of the Electricity (Supply) Ac…

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) revised its electricity tariffs in 1980, 1982 and 1984, which the consumers challenged on the ground that the Board exceeded its authority under Section 59 of the Electricity Supply Act, 1948 by fixing a price structure that generated a surplus beyond covering only expenses pro…

The appellants, Ram Gopal Dwivedi and others, were engaged as apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 by Kanpur Electricity Supply Co. Ltd. (a unit of the U.P. State Electricity Board) and their services were terminated after completing a three‑year training period. The Labour Court held the termination illegal, or…

The State of Kerala announced a policy exempting industrial units from enhanced power tariff if they began commercial production between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 1996. Southern Ispat Ltd. applied for power allocation, faced delays, installed a 125 kVA diesel generator and claimed it had started commercial product…

The Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board (APSEB) granted a 25% rebate on demand and energy charges to high‑tension industries, initially for three years from the date of regular production and later extended for two additional years by a government order dated 23 August 1985. The Board subsequently withdrew the conce…

The Bihar State Electricity Board entered into a contract with Mis. Allied Refractories requiring the consumer to pay a minimum guaranteed charge for electricity. The consumers failed to consume the guaranteed amount because of frequent trippings, load shedding and power cuts, and under Clause 13 of the contract they w…

The Meghalaya State Electricity Board framed service regulations in 1996 that required a Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) to prepare a list of eligible employees each year, but only for vacancies that existed or were expected. The respondents became eligible for promotion in 2000, yet no DPC was convened because …

The Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) entered into a supply agreement with Green Rubber Industries that included a clause obligating the consumer to pay minimum guaranteed charges irrespective of actual consumption. The firm requested disconnection in June 1981, consumed no electricity, but was billed for the minimu…

The Supreme Court examined whether the widows of three deceased employees, who had been appointed on an ad‑hoc six‑month basis, were entitled to family pension under the Punjab Civil Services Rules and the 1964 Family Pension Scheme. The Court held that eligibility for family pension is conditioned on the employee bein…

M/S Magadh Sugar & Energy Ltd., a sugar mill that generates surplus electricity from bagasse, supplies that electricity to the Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB). The Bihar Government levied electricity duty and penalty under the Bihar Electricity Duty Act, 1948, which the company challenged through a writ petition u…

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) issued advertisements for direct recruitment to Joint Manager and Deputy Manager posts. The Central Government, invoking Section 6(2) of the Food Corporation Act, 1964, issued directives prohibiting creation of new posts, filling vacancies by fresh recruitment and revising service co…

M/s Swastic Industries challenged the Maharashtra State Electricity Board’s right to issue a supplementary bill of Rs 317,659 and disconnect its electricity supply after the bill was paid under protest. The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held that the Board’s claim was barred by a three‑year limitation un…

The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) issued a series of office orders between 1989 and 1990 to address stagnation among Junior Engineers, including an upgradation order dated 29‑03‑1990 that raised 20% of Junior Engineer‑II posts to a higher pay scale. The respondents, Junior Engineers, filed a writ petition seeki…

The appellants, former employees of the Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB), sought to have the Assured Career Progression (ACP) Scheme of 2003 applied retrospectively from 09‑08‑1999, as it was for Bihar state government employees. BSEB had earlier adopted the Bihar Service Code but later framed its own service regul…

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) created a separate Secretariat Service in 1964, appointing officers without competitive tests. In 1981 KSEB integrated this Secretariat into its general establishment through regulations, and in 1985 amended the seniority rules to base inter‑se seniority on length of service in…

The Supreme Court examined whether A.P. Gas Power Corporation Ltd (APGPCL), a privately‑participated captive power plant, needed a licence to supply electricity to its shareholders, their sister concerns and companies that acquired its shares. APGPCL argued that the power generated was for captive consumption and that …

Narata Singh, a former work‑charged employee of various Punjab State departments (Irrigation & Power, Bhakra Dam, Beas Dam) from 1952 to 1978, was retrenched and later joined the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) as a work‑charged employee in 1982, regularised in 1984 and retired in 1990. He sought to have his earl…

The Supreme Court examined whether a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) and JSW Energy Ltd (formerly Jindal Thermal Power Co Ltd) was a "concluded contract" under the proviso to Section 27(2) of the Karnataka Electricity Reforms Act, 1999, which would exempt it f…

The appellants were employees of a co‑operative society that was liquidated and its undertaking merged with the Bihar Electricity Board. The Board did not take over the employees, and the appellants filed writ petitions seeking their absorption. The High Court dismissed the petitions and the appeal was upheld. The Supr…

Gurmail Singh, a senior employee of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), was promoted to Upper Division Clerk (UDC) in 1986 and later opted for UDC as his induction post, thereby losing the revised Lower Division Clerk (LDC) pay scale that his junior colleagues received. He filed a writ petition challenging the B…

The widow of Late Shri Krishan, who had been employed on a work‑charge basis by Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd., applied for a family pension under the Family Pension Scheme contained in Appendix 1 of the Punjab Civil Services Rules. The High Court allowed the claim, relying on a prior decision (Kanta Devi) and o…

Baldev Singh Mann challenged the election of Surjit Singh Dhiman, alleging that Dhiman had procured assistance from gazetted officers for his campaign, constituting a corrupt practice under section 123(7) of the Representation of People Act, 1951. The High Court dismissed the petition, finding that Mann failed to prove…

The case concerned whether the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board could alter pension benefits of its employees without formally amending the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Liberalised Pension Regulations, 1960. The Board had relied on a settlement clause to bypass the 15‑day notice under Section 9A of the Industrial Disputes …

Rama Kant Misra, a workman with over 14 years of service and secretary of the workers' union, was charged on 18 November 1971 with using abusive and threatening language towards a senior officer over a wage deduction. An inquiry found the charge proved and recommended dismissal, which was effected on 6 April 1972 befor…

The Orissa State Electricity Board (OSB) entered into a contract with M/s I.P.I. Steel Ltd (the respondent) for power supply up to a maximum demand of 7,778 kVA, with a two‑part tariff comprising demand charges and consumption charges. Due to a severe generation shortfall, the State Government issued an order under Sec…

The Bihar Government’s 1995 Industrial Policy, under Section 78‑A of the Electricity Supply Act, 1948, granted exemption from minimum guarantee charges to new industrial units with a connected load up to 500 kVA. The Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) issued a resolution to implement this exemption but later refused …

The appellants, technical field staff of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), filed a writ petition seeking parity in remuneration for work performed on Saturdays and Sundays, relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Municipal Employees Union v. State of Punjab. The Punjab & Haryana High Court had allowed the c…

The case concerned a rice mill that consumed electricity beyond its contracted load, leading the Executive Engineer to issue a provisional assessment under Section 126 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The mill challenged the assessment and the accompanying notice of "unauthorised use" before the High Court, arguing lack o…

The Haryana State Electricity Board served a demand notice on the purchaser of a rice mill for electricity arrears incurred by the previous owner. The purchaser filed two suits: the first for a permanent injunction against the demand, and the second for a declaration that the demand and subsequent disconnection were in…

The case concerned the interpretation of Regulation 2.7(d)(iv) of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms & Conditions of Tariff) Regulations, 2001, which prescribes a 6% escalation factor for revising operation and maintenance (O&M) charges and allows a deviation of up to 20% (i.e., 4.8% to 7.2%) to be ab…

The appellant, Transmission Corporation of A.P. Ltd., issued a provisional and then a final assessment of Rs.1,41,270 against the respondent, a low‑tension consumer, alleging pilferage of electricity. The respondent objected and appealed under the Terms and Conditions of Supply, seeking a right to cross‑examine the off…

Kailash Chand Mahajan, a retired chief engineer, was appointed Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board in 1981 and his term was repeatedly extended. After he turned 65, the State introduced an ordinance and later an amendment act inserting an age‑limit provision into Section 5(6) of the Electricity (Su…

The petitioners, industrial units in the hill areas of Uttar Pradesh, claimed a 33.33% Hill Development Rebate on electricity charges granted under a 1996 notification issued pursuant to Section 49 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948. Subsequent notifications reduced the rebate to 17% and finally withdrew it entirely…

The New Central Jute Mills Ltd. challenged a surcharge of 5.5 paise per unit imposed by the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Board for electricity drawn in excess of the 70 % limit authorized by the State Government under section 22B of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910. The company argued that the Board lacked authority to le…

M.L.L.C. Steels, a consumer of electricity, defaulted on dues and had its supply disconnected. The undertaking was taken over by the Haryana Financial Corporation and sold "as is where is" to Paramount Polymers. After the sale, the electricity board (Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd.) introduced clause 21A in its…

The Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board (UPSEB), a public sector undertaking, entered into supply agreements with several cooperative societies registered under the Uttar Pradesh Co-operative Societies Act, 1965. Disputes arose over the rates charged and alleged failure to provide uninterrupted power, leading the All…

The appellants, steel re‑rolling mills, had a low‑tension electricity supply contract for a 150 HP load. The Board installed a Maximum Demand Indicator (MDI) meter to record the highest 30‑minute demand and, based on its readings, raised additional charges for excess load at double the normal tariff. The appellants cha…

The appellants, arc‑furnace industries established before June 1995, were required to shift their power supply from 11 kV to 66 kV or pay a surcharge of 17.5% under a 1995 circular. A 1999 circular exempted pre‑1995 units from both conversion and surcharge. After the Electricity Act, 2003 came into force, the Punjab St…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of appeals concerning whether electricity arrears of a previous owner can be recovered from a subsequent owner who acquired the premises through auction or other transfers. It held that the duty of a distribution licensee to supply electricity under Section 43 of the Electricity Act, …

Binani Zinc Ltd. challenged the Kerala State Electricity Board’s (KSEB) 2002 tariff revision order, arguing that after the Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, 1998 came into force, the Board no longer had authority to set tariffs until a State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) was constituted. The Supreme Co…

M/S. Nava Bharat Ferro Alloys Ltd. appealed against the demand for additional charges and interest on delayed electricity payments under Clause 32.2.1 and Clause 34 of the Terms and Conditions of Supply (TCS). The High Court had dismissed the writ petitions and upheld the demand, holding the TCS to be statutory and not…

The appellant U.P. Power Corporation Ltd. challenged the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (CERC) approval of additional capitalisation of Rs 4.521 crore for a thermal power plant taken over by NTPC Ltd. The CERC had allowed the excess expenditure despite the requirement in Regulation 2.5 of its Tariff Regula…

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) maintained two separate services, the General Establishment and the Board Secretariat Service. Two employees of the Secretariat Service, S.G. Rajappan and L. Radhadevi, received out‑of‑turn promotions that were later declared illegal. The senior employee in the General Establis…

The Punjab State Electricity Board appealed against the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission’s tariff order, which had been upheld by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the ground that the Commission failed to consider certain parameters. The industrial consumers (M/s SIEL Ltd. and others) had challenged th…

The Supreme Court examined appeals by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) against the High Court’s enhancement of compensation for fruit‑bearing trees cut to lay a 110 kV electric line. The Board had originally determined compensation under Section 10 of the Telegraph Act, 1885, using a 5% annuity rate, but the H…

The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board inspected the meters of Harsh Wood Products and found tampered seals indicating theft of electricity. The Board issued a notice demanding payment of Rs 6,51,256.61 and threatened disconnection of supply. The High Court set aside the demand, holding that the consumer was entitled to …

The case concerned a dispute over the retirement age of employees of the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board. The Board, under Section 79(c) of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, reduced the retirement age to 58 years by a notification dated 26‑December‑2000, overturning an earlier agreement (dated 10‑June‑1996) that had…

The case concerned two employees of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, Shri D.R. Mehta and Shri Uppal, who were promoted to the post of Superintendent after passing the Subordinate Accounts Service (SAS) examination. Mehta passed the exam in October 1972 and was appointed in April 1973, while Uppal passed in…

BSES Ltd., a distribution licensee, and Tata Power Co. Ltd. (TPC), a bulk licensee, disputed the amount BSES should pay for a 275 MVA standby power facility provided by TPC, which itself paid charges to the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) for a 550 MVA standby capacity. The State Government had earlier direc…

The Government of Uttar Pradesh issued a policy on 16 July 1986 granting a 10% developmental rebate on electricity to newly set‑up industries, valid until 1990. Ester Industries Ltd., having established a plant, claimed the rebate, but the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board issued a tariff without it, prompting a wr…

The respondents, who retired on 30 April 1990, sought parity in pension and terminal benefits with employees retiring on or after 1 July 1990, arguing that the corporation's pay‑scale revision dated 1 July 1990 discriminated against them. The corporation relied on a Memorandum of Settlement executed under Section 12(3)…

The Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) entered into a supply agreement with Dhanawat Rice and Oil Mills containing clauses for a constant supply of electricity, a minimum‑guarantee payment and a provision for proportionate reduction if supply was prevented by causes beyond the Board’s control. The Board billed the co…

The Himachal Pradesh government entered into an Implementation Agreement with JSW Hydro Energy Ltd (formerly JIL) to supply 12% free power for the first 12 years and 18% thereafter from a 1045 MW hydro project. When the free‑power obligation rose above the 13% cap prescribed in CERC (Terms and Conditions of Tariff) Reg…

The Supreme Court examined the dispute between the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) and private mini‑power‑plant (MPP) developers, including Mis. R.V.K. Energy Pvt. Ltd. and LVS Power Ltd., over the Commission’s direction that all power generated by the MPPs must be sold exclusively to APTRANSCO…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Kerala Government Order of 26 September 2000, which retrospectively withdrew electricity tariff concessions granted to classified hotels under a tourism‑industry policy, was valid. The hotels argued that the withdrawal violated their accrued rights, the doctrine of promissory esto…

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and the State of Tamil Nadu appealed against a Madras High Court order that upheld tariff concessions for high‑tension industries set up before 15‑02‑1997. The dispute centered on the meaning of "set up" in the 1995 and 1997 government notifications and whether the doctrine of promissor…

The Supreme Court examined disputes arising from Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between independent power producers (IPPs) and the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board (MPEB) concerning escrow protection and tariff determination. The IPPs claimed the PPAs were statutory contracts tha…

Kanoria Chemicals & Industries Ltd. entered into a 1963 contract with the Uttar Pradesh Government for electricity at concessional rates. The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Laws (Amendment) Act, 1983 amended Section 60 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, allowing the State and the Board to revise rates retrospectively fr…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of the Tamil Nadu Tax on Consumption or Sale of Electricity Act, 2003, holding that the State has legislative competence under Entry 53 of List II and that the Act does not conflict with the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948. The Court clarified that the repeal‑and‑savings …

The Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) levied a fuel surcharge on high‑tension consumers under its 1993 tariff notification, using a formula in clause 16.10.3. Consumers challenged the calculation, arguing that the Board improperly included purchases from Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Ltd (TVNL) and treated the DVC‑to‑TISCO …

The Supreme Court considered multiple writ petitions filed by industrial consumers, including Ferro Alloys Corp., challenging the terms of electricity supply imposed by various State Electricity Boards. The issues revolved around the validity of Section 49 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, the reasonableness of a …

The case concerned the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (DERC) decision to reduce the depreciation rate for the newly privatized distribution companies from 6.69% to 3.75% in its 2003 tariff order. The respondents, the distribution companies including BSES Yamuna Power Ltd., argued that the reduction violated …

The Supreme Court considered appeals by A.P. Steel Re‑Rolling Mill Ltd. against the State of Kerala and the Kerala State Electricity Board. The State had issued a 1992 notification exempting new industrial units from the enhanced power tariff if commercial production began between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 1996. T…

Employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board who retired between 31 July 2003 and 30 October 2006 challenged a circular dated 29 July 2003 that replaced the pension‑commutation table, alleging it was arbitrary, discriminatory and violative of Article 14. The High Court quashed the circular and restored pension calcu…

The Supreme Court examined whether Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) could retrospectively impose a 15% surcharge after issuing circulars that allowed consumers to opt out of a guaranteed 500‑hour supply, and whether the doctrine of promissory estoppel barred such action. The Court held that where UPPCL made …

Arun Kumar Agarwal and others filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court seeking the cancellation of a 1,000 MW thermal power project at Mangalore and the registration of a FIR for alleged corruption. The High Court, without detailed analysis, directed the CBI to investigate based on thirteen points of alleged s…

The Supreme Court considered three appeals where successful resolution applicants sought to withdraw or modify their resolution plans after approval by the Committee of Creditors (CoC) but before approval by the Adjudicating Authority under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. The Court held that the IBC doe…

The Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (MPSEB) challenged two notifications issued by the Central Government fixing the dissolution date of the erstwhile MPSEB as 15‑Nov‑2000 and apportioning assets, rights and liabilities between MPSEB and the newly formed Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board (CSEB). MPSEB alleged…

The Srinagar Hydro Electric Project (SHEP) in Uttarakhand, originally cleared environmentally in 1985 and forest‑cleared in 1987, was later transferred to Alaknanda Hydro Power Co. Ltd. (AHPCL) with a capacity increase to 330 MW. Petitioners challenged the validity of the clearances and sought a public hearing under th…

The Indian Aluminium Company set up an aluminium smelter in Karnataka and entered into two tripartite agreements (1966 and 1976) with the Karnataka Electricity Board and the State for uninterrupted power at concessional rates. The Board later raised tariffs, and Karnataka amended Section 49 of the Electricity (Supply) …

The petitioners, employees of various public sector undertakings in Bihar, sought enforcement of their fundamental right to life under Article 21 after prolonged non-payment of salaries, which had resulted in several deaths. The Supreme Court examined whether the States of Bihar and Jharkhand, as shareholders and contr…

The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board framed recruitment and promotion regulations for Junior Engineers and Assistant Engineers under the Electricity (Supply) Act, allocating 95% of Junior Engineer posts to direct recruits (qualified diploma holders) and 5% to promotees (unqualified matriculates). The Board furt…

The Nadiad Borough Municipality entered a 20‑year electricity supply agreement with Nadiad Electric Co. Ltd. in 1940. When the agreement expired in August 1960, the company refused to continue supply at the original rates, offering only revised rates. The municipality sued for a declaration that, under Section 22‑A(3) …

The Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board deleted clauses 21(t) and 21(g) of its general conditions that required payment of interest on security deposits. Grasim Industries Ltd challenged the deletion through writ petitions. A Single Judge of the High Court held the deletion permissible, but a Division Bench reversed…

The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) disconnected electricity to Mis. Guru Nanak Cold Storage for non‑payment of dues. The respondent claimed damages for the disconnection and invoked arbitration under Section 52 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and Section 76(2) of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948. PSEB file…

Kashi Vishwanath Steel Ltd. (KVSL) obtained an exemption from a 15% surcharge on electricity supplied from an independent feeder by writing to the Executive Engineer, relying on a circular dated 8 September 2000. After the bifurcation of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation, Uttarakhand Power Corporation (UPC) withdrew the …

The U.P. Electricity Board (appeal) and M/s Triveni Engineering Works Ltd (respondent) entered into an agreement for electricity supply of 104 kW, which allowed the Board to revise tariffs under Section 48 of the Electricity Supply Act, 1948. The Board revised tariffs on 13 July 1986, deleting the LMV‑10 schedule witho…

The Rajasthan State Electricity Board entered into a 1961 agreement with Delhi Cloth Mills to supply bulk electricity at a concessional rate, subject to a review clause (cl.18) and a provision that the agreement was subject to future legislation (cl.34(b)). The Board later imposed a 15% general surcharge and, invoking …

The consumer, Suresh Jindal, challenged the replacement of his electromechanical electricity meter with an electronic one by BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd, alleging the new meter ran fast (+1.79%) and was illegal. He sought a writ of mandamus to quash the replacement and the testing report. The Delhi High Court dismissed the…

The Rajasthan State Electricity Board (RSEB) and its employees entered into a first settlement on 22‑Feb‑1972 fixing pay‑scale No. 3 for Meter Readers/Checkers, later clarified by a second settlement on 2‑Dec‑1972 that created two grades (I and II) with different scales. The High Court quashed the second settlement and…

The writ petitioners, Ayodhya Prasad Mishra and another, were Executive Engineers who, after scoring the highest marks, were placed in Category I under the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board Service of Engineers Regulations, 1970, and sought promotion to Superintending Engineer. The Corporation refused to promote th…

The Punjab State Electricity Board (the Board) was appealed against for refusing to supply electricity to a group of agriculturists (Zora Singh and others) despite receipt of security deposits and compliance with formalities. The District Consumer Forums, State Commission and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commis…

A supervisor of the Karnataka Electricity Board discovered that the respondent had tampered with the electric meter to avoid recording consumption and lodged a complaint with the police. The trial magistrate acquitted the respondent, holding that the supervisor was not authorized under section 50 of the Indian Electric…

The State Government of Andhra Pradesh granted a licence to Guntur Power and Light Ltd (GPL) to operate an electricity undertaking and transferred certain lands to it. GPL later leased portions of this land to its sister company, Guntur Tobacco Company (GTC), with an option to purchase. In 1956 the government acquired …

The Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board was required under the Emergency Risks (Factories) Insurance Act, 1962 to insure its distribution and transmission lines against war‑risk damage. The Director of the Emergency Risks Insurance Scheme fixed a balance premium of Rs 47,59,109, which the Board contested on four gro…

In Oswal Woolen Mills Ltd. v. Punjab State Electricity Board & Anr., the company sought clarification on a prior judgment regarding the commencement date for payment of a surcharge under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948. The issue was whether the surcharge liability arose on 13 May 1992, the date of conversion of sup…

The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. granted a 33.33% hill‑development rebate on electricity charges to new industrial units in hill districts through notifications issued under Section 49 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, for a period of five years. Subsequent notifications in 1998 and 1999 reduced the rebate…

The Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) was challenged by two trade unions for allegedly failing to pay statutory bonus to their workmen for the accounting years 1965‑66 to 1969‑70 under the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965. The Industrial Tribunal held that after deducting certain items from gross profits, no allocab…

The petitioner, Katheeja Bai, widow of a retired Tamil Nadu Electricity Board employee, claimed that the Board had failed to credit the special contribution mandated by Regulation 37 of the Board’s Contributory Provident Fund Regulations to her late husband’s provident fund account. The Board contended that this specia…

Naresh Kumar Madan, a civil engineer employed by the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board, was caught accepting a bribe of Rs.1,000 for granting an electrical connection and was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. He contended that he was not a "public servant" within the meaning of the Act because the de…

The appellants, who were appointed as Operators in the Bihar State Electricity Board after failing to secure Junior Electrical Engineer posts in 1984, claimed that the State Government’s directions under Section 78‑A of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 to appoint and absorb them as Junior Engineers were binding. The …

The Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board revised electricity tariffs and imposed a late payment surcharge under a Notification issued pursuant to Section 49 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948. Several consumers, including Mis. Kanoria Chemicals, obtained a stay of the Notification in writ petitions, but the petitio…

The case concerned the award of a hydro‑electric project contract by the Kerala State Electricity Board to K.P. Poulose at rates far above the probable amount, allegedly facilitated by Minister R. Balakrishna Pillai, a Board member and a close associate. The prosecution proved that the Minister, the Board member and an…

The appellant, Pilibhit Electric Supply Co., held a licence to generate electricity which was revoked and its undertaking was taken over by the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board on 1 December 1975. The Special Officer, under Section 7‑A of the Indian Electricity Act (as amended by U.P. Act 14 of 1976), fixed the co…

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. (GUVNL) appealed against the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity’s order that Essar Power Ltd. (EPL) had no contractual duty to declare its generating capacity on a 300 MW : 215 MW (58 % : 42 %) basis. The Supreme Court examined the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and held that the agreement…

Sohan Singh Sodhi, a lineman appointed in 1964 and later promoted to Junior Engineer without holding an engineering diploma, challenged the Punjab State Electricity Board's policy of granting higher pay scales and promotions to diploma‑holding linemen. He argued that the Board's refusal to extend the same scale of pay …

The Supreme Court entertained a public‑interest writ petition alleging that numerous Bihar‑owned public sector undertakings had failed to pay salaries for years, leading to starvation deaths and suicides of employees and their families. The petition sought directions for payment of arrears and held the State of Bihar l…

The Union of India (Northern Railways) sought to construct its own transmission lines to draw power directly from NTPC’s thermal power plants, alleging that the tariff charged by UP State Electricity Board (UPSEB) was excessive. UPSEB issued a notice demanding cessation of the construction, prompting the Railways to ch…

Ashok Iron Works Pvt. Ltd., a private limited manufacturing company, filed a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 against Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation (KPTC) for delay in electricity supply. The key issues were whether a private limited company qualifies as a ‘person’ under s.2(1)(d) of the Act…

Siri Pal, a lineman with the Haryana State Electricity Board, obtained an AMIE qualification (equivalent to a B.E.) in March 1992 and sought an out‑of‑turn promotion to Junior Engineer based on a Board promotion policy dated 22 April 1980, which granted such promotions to degree‑qualified employees. The Board withdrew …

The Rajasthan State Electricity Board (RSEB) operates a thermal power station that draws river water for condenser cooling and discharges it after passing through a neutralisation arrangement that cools the water before release. RSEB was assessed cess under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 a…

The respondents, former security guards of the Patratu Thermal Power Station, were dismissed in 1975 and filed a civil suit in Patna in 1979 seeking reinstatement, which the trial court allowed. The Bihar State Electricity Board appealed, and the appeal was heard by the Additional District Judge, Patna, and later by th…

The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) issued demand notices for higher tariff and penalties against Ashwani Kumar and other consumers, alleging that two electricity connections operating in what was claimed to be separate premises were in fact in the same premises and therefore should be clubbed under the Electrici…

The dispute arose when Reliance Energy (formerly BSES) alleged that Tata Power Company (TPC) was encroaching on its distribution area by supplying electricity directly to retail consumers, contrary to licence terms and government policy. The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) initially held that TPC’s…

The Vellore Electric Corporation Ltd., a licensee under the Electricity Supply Act, claimed deductions for amounts transferred to its Contingencies, Development and Tariffs‑and‑Dividend Control reserves for assessment years 1967‑68 to 1970‑71, and also sought relief under Section 80‑1 for interest earned on securities …

The Bihar State Electricity Board imposed a central excise duty on electricity generation and merged it into a uniform tariff, later levying a surcharge. When the central excise duty was abolished, the Patna High Court held that the Board should reduce the uniform tariff. The Board appealed, arguing that tariff fixatio…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by Hyderabad Engineering Industries Ltd. and other high‑tension consumers challenging a 1981 notification of the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board that required them to receive supply at higher voltages and imposed a surcharge for non‑compliance. The petitioners argued that the…

The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Board fixed a grid tariff for licensees in the Ganga‑Sarda Grid by a notification dated 24 April 1962 under s.46 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 and enhanced it by 20 % on 30 September 1967. The City Board, a licensee, sought state permission to raise its rates in 1966, received it o…

The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) classified Sub Fire Officers in Group XII but paid them a lower scale than Head Clerks, Head Clerk‑cum‑Divisional Accountants and Internal Auditors, also in Group XII. The Sub Fire Officers claimed parity of pay on the ground of discrimination under Article 14 and sought the sa…

The Punjab State Electricity Board revised the pay scales of Head Clerks (Rs.2000‑3500) and Internal Auditors (Rs.1800‑3200) in 1990, disturbing a long‑standing parity that had existed for over two decades. Internal Auditors filed writ petitions claiming that the revision violated Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution…

Kanpur Electricity Supply Co. Ltd. (appellant) terminated the services of two cashiers, Shamim Mirza and Manoj Srivastava, alleging they were employees of a contractor. The workmen claimed they were regular employees of the company and sought reinstatement with back wages under Sections 6N, 6P and 6Q of the Uttar Prade…

The appellants, large industrial consumers, entered into standard supply agreements with the West Bengal State Electricity Board that imposed both minimum guaranteed charges and maximum demand charges. The agreements provided for remission of minimum charges when supply was interrupted, but were silent on remission of …

The respondent, P.L. Kelkar, was directly recruited by the U.P. State Electricity Board as an Assistant Engineer in 1964 and was granted nine advance increments because of his prior experience, whereas other engineers received only two. The Board framed the Service of Engineers (Integration and Seniority) Regulations, …

The respondents, who were initially appointed as apprentices/ITI trainees, claimed that the two‑year apprenticeship period should be counted as regular satisfactory service for the purpose of the Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme, seeking a second ACP scale after twenty years of service. The employer argued that …

The Assam State Legislature enacted the Bharat Hydro Power Corporation Limited (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertaking) Act, 1996 to acquire a stalled hydro‑electric project and vest it in the State Electricity Board. The appellants, Bharat Hydro Power Corporation Ltd. and its partner, challenged the Act as ultra vire…

The case involved M/s Jindal Steel & Power Ltd., which operated captive power plants to supply electricity to its own industrial units at Rs 3.72 per unit while selling surplus power to the State Electricity Board at Rs 2.32 per unit. The assessing officer reduced the deduction claimed under Section 80‑IA, treating Rs …

The second respondent, a former coolie of the Kanpur Electricity Supply Corporation, was retired on 31 March 1979 upon attaining the age of 58. He claimed the retirement was invalid because the original service conditions, under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946, did not prescribe an age of superann…

M/S. Indsil Hydro Power and Manganese Ltd (the appellant) and Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI) entered into agreements with the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) under a 1990 Government policy that required payment of royalty for the controlled release of water used in their captive hydro‑electric projects. Both co…

The three Delhi distribution companies (BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd., BSES Yamuna Power Ltd., and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd.) challenged the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (DERC) tariff orders that created and perpetuated a large regulatory asset to bridge revenue gaps, which had ballooned to over Rs 27,…

The Gujarat Electricity Board (Gujarat Urja) and CLP India entered into a 1994 Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 635 MW of electricity. A 1995 Central Government notification amended the 1992 tariff notification, removing the deemed generation incentive for naphtha‑based plants. Gujarat Urja sought recovery of incenti…

The Haryana State Electricity Board (HSEB) operated two thermal power plants with differing pay scales for identical posts, prompting employees at the Faridabad plant to sue for equal pay based on the doctrine of "equal pay for equal work". The lower courts granted higher pay and designation to the plaintiffs, relying …

Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys Ltd., a power‑intensive ferro‑alloy manufacturer with four furnaces, had been permitted by the Orissa State Electricity Board to club the electricity allocations of its units for efficient operation. The State Government, invoking Section 22B of the Indian Electricity Act, later denied cl…

The State of Kerala and Indian Aluminium Co. Ltd. disputed the effect of the 1983 amendment inserting Section 49(5) into the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948. The company had a special agreement under Section 49(3) for electricity at concessional rates and enjoyed a partial exemption from electricity duty under the Keral…

J.M.D. Alloys Ltd., an industrial electricity consumer, was alleged to have tampered with the seal of its CT/PT terminal box and to have drawn electricity beyond its contracted load, leading the Bihar State Electricity Board to issue a compensatory bill under Clause 16.9 of its tariff. The petitioner challenged the bil…

The Association of Industrial Electricity Users challenged the tariff fixed by the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission for the financial year 2000-01, contending that the tariff should have been fixed under Section 26(9) and that the Act prohibits classification of consumers or any undue preference. The Hi…

R. Balakrishna Pillai, a former Kerala Minister for Electricity, was charged with criminal conspiracy (IPC s.120‑B) and an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act for supplying electricity to a private firm in Karnataka without the Kerala Government's consent. The Kerala High Court held that sanction under CrPC …

The Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board, exercising powers under Section 49 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, issued three notifications promising a 10% rebate on electricity charges to new industries for three years. It later withdrew this incentive by a notification dated 31 July 1986. The appellants, who had …

The Supreme Court examined whether a tariff fixed under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is immutable and beyond the review of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC). The Court held that tariff determination is a statutory function of the SERC under Section 86(1)(b) of the Electricity Act, 2003 and is subje…

The petitioners challenged the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission’s Regulation 45‑B, which prescribes a formula for calculating the fuel surcharge adjustment (FSA) and excludes agricultural consumption until metering is completed. They argued that the regulation was ultra vires the Andhra Pradesh Electric…

Fertilizers & Chemicals Travancore Ltd entered into a 1948 agreement with the princely State of Travancore for electricity at a fixed rate, later succeeded by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). In 1968 KSEB raised the tariff for the appellant to Rs.200 per kW per year under Regulation 11 of the 1966 General Tar…

Jayshree Chemicals, a power‑intensive industry, entered into supply agreements with the Orissa State Electricity Board. The State Government, invoking Section 228 of the Electricity Act, 1910, issued yearly notifications restricting power consumption and waiving minimum‑charge liability for certain water years. For the…

The West Bengal State Electricity Board (the Board) had initially consented to the establishment of a new thermal generating station at Budge Budge, but the project cost later escalated. The licensee, Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation Ltd., sought further Board consent for the revised cost, which the Board approved …

The Madhya Pradesh Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitran Company and its officers entered into a supply agreement with Bapuna Alcobrew Private Ltd, which required the latter to consume a minimum amount of electricity. The respondent installed a turbo‑generating set contrary to conditions, leading the appellant to issue show‑cau…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed against a High Court order that had held Mis Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd. entitled to reimbursement of Peak Load Exemption Charge (PLEC) under the power‑tariff‑freeze incentive granted to industrial units. The cement unit, which began commercial production on 26‑Sept‑1995, was supp…

The appellant, a farmers' society, challenged the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board’s (APSEB) revision of agricultural electricity tariffs from a flat rate of Rs. 50 per horsepower per annum to a slab system based on horsepower consumption. The Board argued that the flat rate would have caused a massive deficit, v…

Godhra Electricity Co. Ltd., a licensee under the Electricity Act, raised electricity rates but could not recover the increased charges because of protracted consumer litigation, a government advisory to maintain status quo, and a takeover of its undertaking under the Defence of India Rules. The Income Tax Officer had …

The dispute concerned whether the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) could have the arrears of salary revision for its employees, payable with retrospective effect from 1997, included in the tariff for its Korba and Dadri power stations for the years 1997-2000. NTPC filed tariff applications in 2001, later amend…

K.R. Gulati, a substantive Junior Scale Stenographer in the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB), was promoted ad‑hoc to Head Clerk and was not considered for the upgrade of Junior Stenographers to Senior Stenographers in 1976. The Himachal Pradesh High Court held that he was entitled to be considered for p…

The Supreme Court considered appeals arising from the sale of mortgaged industrial premises by the Bihar State Financial Corporation. The purchasers, who acquired the assets at auction, were denied reconnection of electricity because the Bihar State Electricity Board demanded payment of arrears incurred by the previous…

The Meghalaya State Electricity Board (MSEB) adopted a Government of Meghalaya memorandum on premature retirement of employees under Fundamental Rule 57(b) by passing Resolution No. 6 on 10 May 1989 and later issued an order compulsorily retiring Jagadindra Arjun. The employee challenged the order, and while a Single J…

Tata Power Company Ltd (TPC), a city‑wide distribution licensee, supplied standby power to BSES/Reliance Energy Ltd (later Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd) which served Mumbai suburbs. TPC paid Rs.24.75 crore per month as standby charges to Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) and recovered this amount, plus an addi…

ESSAR Steel Ltd. (appellant No.1) and its sister company ESSAR Power Ltd. (appellant No.2) sought exemption from electricity duty under the Bombay Electricity Duty Act, 1958, invoking Section 3(2)(vii)(a)(i) and a 1992 notification issued under Section 3(3). The claim was based on the contention that the power generate…

The appellants, owners of mini steel plants, were granted a concessional electricity tariff by the Andhra Pradesh Government in 1977. The State Electricity Board later imposed minimum consumption charges and raised the tariff, prompting the Government to issue clarifications in December 1978 and January 1980 regarding …

The appellants, industrial electricity consumers, challenged the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board’s upward revision of high‑tension tariffs and the imposition of a fuel‑cost adjustment charge. The Supreme Court held that the Board’s power to fix tariffs under s.49 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, remains va…

The Bihar State Electricity Board, exercising its power under Section 49 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, issued a 1979 tariff notification that imposed a fuel surcharge on certain categories of industrial and railway traction consumers while exempting domestic, commercial and irrigation users. The appellants, in…

Hyderabad Vanaspathi Ltd. entered into two high‑tension electricity supply agreements with the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board (APSEB). After the Board discovered alleged pilferage, it disconnected supply and made a provisional and then a final assessment of loss under Clause 39 of the Board's Terms and Conditio…

The appellants, high‑tension electricity consumers including Real Food Products Ltd., challenged the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board’s tariff revisions, arguing that the board’s imposition of a fuel‑adjustment cost only on high‑tension users and the flat‑rate concession for agricultural pump sets violated Articl…