POWER GRID ASSOCIATES Vs. ASSAM STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. T. Das, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr. B. Choudhury, learned standing counsel appearing for all the respondents.

(2.) This is a petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ in the nature of mandamus for a direction to the respondent authorities to release the security deposit amounting to Rs.23,20,835.00 (Rupees twenty three lakh twenty thousand eight hundred and thirty five) only, deposited by the petitioner as security deposits towards the three agreements dtd. 30/1/2010, entered into between the petitioner and the Assam State Electricity Board (now renamed as Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd./in short 'the APDCL').

(3.) The brief facts of the instant case is that subsequent to a tender, the petitioner entered into three agreements for deployment of input based distribution franchise (IDBF). In terms of the said agreement, the petitioner was appointed as a franchise to undertake the management of local electricity distribution and revenue collection in the area, assigned to including minor repair and maintenance activities, provision of new service connections, disconnections and regularization of illegal consumers, as detailed in the said agreement, subject to the terms and conditions, as stipulated from time to time by the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission, in specific area within the jurisdiction of the respondent Electricity Company.