ABBINENI NARAYANA RAO Vs. CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER COMMERCIAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Sri N. Sreedhar Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited appearing for the writ petitioners/ respondent Nos.1 to 7 in W.A.No.657 of 2025/appellants in W.A.No.692 of 2025 and Ms. Nishitha, learned counsel for the appellant in W.A.No.657 of 2025/respondent No.1 in W.A.No.692 of 2025 and Writ Petition No.34539 of 2024.

(2.) Bereft of unnecessary details, the short issue involved in the present appeals is whether the owner/appellant in W.A.No.657 of 2025/respondent No.1 in W.A.No.692 of 2025 (for short 'the owner') is liable to pay the outstanding dues of his lessee/consumer to the respondent electricity company under the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 (for short 'the Act of 2003'), and the General Terms and Conditions of Supply framed by the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) in 2006, which continues to remain in force after bifurcation of the parent State?

(3.) Indisputably, the notice of disconnection was issued upon the lessee, M/s. Meghana Pharma, by the respondent electricity company on 13/6/2022. The lessee had left the premises by that time. On failure to pay the outstanding dues by the lessee, the owner's Service Connection No.S6004023 was also disconnected. The dues were to the tune of Rs.23,81,893.00. At the instance of the aggrieved owner, the matter travelled to the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum of the Circle concerned and thereafter, to the Vidyut Ombudsman of the respondent electricity company. The respondent electricity company being aggrieved by the award of the Forum laid a challenge before this Court in Writ Petition No.34539 of 2024.