BOKARO STEEL EMPLOYEES CO-OPERATIVE HOUSE CONSTRUCTION SOCIETY MEMBER ASSOCIATION Vs. STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LTD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN all these cases, as comon question of law involved and almost similar prayer has been made, they wee heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

(2.) THE petitioner, Bokaro Steel Employees Co -Operative House Construction Society Members Association (for short 'Association ') through Ramta Prasad Singh and another of WP (C) No. 5980 of 2002 has challenged the bill dated 5th September, 2002 as raised by 6th respondent. Executive Director, P&A Steel Authority of India Limited, Bokaro Steel Limited (for short BSL) whereby it had demanded a sum of Rs. 3,05,65,796.16 paise from Bokaro Steel Employees Co -operative House Construction Society Limited, Bokaro (for short 'Co -operative Society ') on account of arrears on revision of electricity charges w.e.f. May, 1S97. Further prayer has been made to set aside the enhancement of electricity charges as raised by BSL @ 239 paise/kwh (unit) w.e.f. May, 1997 and @ 332 paise/KWH (unit) w.e.f. April, 2002. The Association has also prayed to direct the respondents not to give effect to the orders dated 13th May, 1998, 8th January, 1999 and 29th January, 1999 whereby the rate of electricity has been enhanced. Prayer has been made to direct the respondents to charge the electricity rate at par with the rates as being charged on the employees of BSL and to restore concession to the extent supply of 15,000 free units on account of provision of street lights and for restoration of the concessions of energy charges to the retired employees of BSL. The petitioner, Usha Prakash of WP (C) No. 1868 of 2002 has prayed for direction on the respondents to raise energy bills regularly on the basis of rate fixed by Damodar Valley Corporation . (for short DVC) without adding any other charges. The 3rd petition, WP (C) No. 986 of 2003 has been preferred by the Co -operative Society (Bokaro Steel Employees Co -operative House Construction Society Limited) which has also challenged the order No. 1000 dated 5th September, 2002 whereby the Executive Director (P&A) raised demand of Rs. 3,05,65,796.16 paise on account of electricity charges and the order No. 93 dated 25th January, 1999 whereby the rate of electricity charges raised to Rs. 2.39 paise per unit w.e.f. 1st May, 1997 and the order No. 533 dated 2nd May, 2002 whereby electricity charges further raised to Rs. 3.32 paise per unit w.e.f. 1st April, 2002.

(3.) ACCORDING to petitioners, by its decision dated 16th February, 1990, the BSL agreed to give the following benefits : - -