M/S Sky Tech Estates Private Limited v. State of Haryana and Others

INoTHEoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoHIGHoCOURToAToo CHANDIGARHo o 102?201oo o o o o o ooCM-3754-CWP-2023oIN/ANDoooo CWP-6204-2021o(O M!o D"#$o%&oD$'()(%*+o10,03,2023o o M/-o-.YoTECHoE-TATE-oPRI/ATEo0IMITEDo ...oPetitionero VERSUSo -TATEoO1oHARYANAoANDoOTHER-o ...oRespondentso CORAM+o HON2B0EoMR,oJU-TICEo/INODo-,oBHARDWAJ,o o Present:o Mr.oJagdishoManchanda,oAdvocateoandoo o o Mr.oNischaloChetanya,oAdvocateoo orotheopetitioner.o o Mr. Pankaj Mulwani, DAG, Haryana.o o o Mr.o!.R.oMaha"an,oSr.oAdvocateo#itho o Mr.oVive$oSaini,oAdvocate,o%aryanao o ororespondentsoNo.&otoo'.o o 3333o /INODo-,oBHARDWAJ4oJ,o(ORA0!o CM-3754-CWP-2023o This is an application for placing on record the additional affidavit of Mehtab Singh, Executive Engineer, (Operations), Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, Rohtak alongwith Annexures R-A1 to R-A6 on behalf of the respondents No.2 to 5. For the reasons mentioned in the application, the same is allowed subject to all just exceptions. The additional affidavit alongwith the annexures are ordered to be taken on record. Registry is directed to tag the same at appropriate place of the CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -2-o MAINoCASEo o o TheopresentopetitionohasobeenofiledounderoArticleso226/227oofotheo ConstitutionoofoIndia,o1950oforoissuanceoofoaowritoinotheonatureoofoCertiorario raisingoaochallengeotooorderodatedo08.02.2021opassedobyorespondentono.5oasowello asoletterodatedo23.02.2021oissuedobyorespondentoNo.3.oAofurtheroprayerohasoalsoo beenosoughtobyotheopetitioneroforoclaimingograntoofowaiveroofointerest/surchargeo chargedooverotheobillsoforotheoperiodoofolockdownosinceoMarcho2020oasowelloaso theoperiodopriorothereto.oHeofurtherocontendsothatoitoisoaomallothatohadobeeno constructedo ino Rohtako aftero purchasingo lando fromo theo Haryanao Urbano DevelopmentoAuthorityoino2007oandouponocompletionoofoallotypesoofoformalities.o Aotemporaryoelectricoconnectionohadoalsoobeenoobtainedobyotheopetitioneroprioro too raisingo constructiono whereaftero regularo connectiono bearingo accounto No.0092260000owasoreleased.oTheopetitioneroclaimsotoobeoregularlyopayingotheo electricityochargesosinceotheoveryoinceptionoofotheoelectricoconnectionoandotheo Mallobecomingooperational.oHowever,oonoaccountoofotheospreadoofoCOVID-19o pandemicotheoMallohadobeenoshutodown.oTheopetitionerowasothusoforcedotoostopo theo operationoofotheo Mallo withoimmediateo effecto ando cashotransactionso wereo severelyoimpacted.oAorequestowasothereafterosubmittedobyotheopetitionerotootheo respondent-Authoritiesoforonotodisconnectingotheoelectricityoconnectionoofotheo Malloandotooprovideosomeotimeotoopayotheodepartmentaloduesoforotheoperiodotillo theo pandemico cameo undero control.o Ito iso submittedo thato theo respondent-DistributionoLicenseeogeneratedotheobilloonlyoonotheobasisoofoaverageomonthlyo consumptionso notwithstandingo theo facto thato theo Mallo ino questiono hado beeno completelyoshutodownoforotheoperiodofromoMarcho2020otilloAugusto2020.oAo representationo waso accordinglyo submittedo byo theo petitionero ono 17.10.2020o requestingotheorespondent-DistributionoLicenseeotoolookointootheogrievanceoando CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -3-o toorectifyotheobillsogeneratedobyotheorespondent-Departmentoforotheosaidoperiodo i.e.ofromoMarcho2020otooAugusto2020.ooResultantly,oanoadditionalorepresentationo waso submittedo byo theo petitionero ono 19.10.2020.o Theo petitionero thereaftero receivedoaonewobilloono18.11.2020oandoaosumoofoRs.8,00,000/-owasoimposedo despiteotheopetitionerohavingomadeoaorepresentationotoorectifyotheoamountoofo Rs.13.14olacsoplusointerest/surchargeoclaimedobyothem.oHeofurtherosubmitsothato theo electricityo supplyo ofo theo petitionero remainedo disconnectedo foro theo entireo month.oAorepresentationogivingoallodetailsowasosubmittedobyotheopetitionerotootheo ExecutiveoEngineerowhereafter,oaosumoofoRs.2,00,000/-owasodepositedobyotheo petitionerowithotheorespondent-DistributionoLicenseeoonoanounderstandingothato theoelectricityoconnectionoshallobeorestored.oDespiteotheoaforesaidoamountohavingo beenodeposited,otheoelectricityosupplyohadonotobeenorestoredoandotheorespondent-DistributionoLicenseeodemandedotheoentireooutstandingoamount.oHeosubmitsothato aosubsequentorepresentationoinocontinuationotootheoearlierorepresentationowaso alsoosentobyotheopetitioner,oasoperowhichoaoconsumptionoofoonlyo64ounitsowaso beingoreflectedoforotheoperiododuringo13oOctober,o2020otoo15oOctobero2020,o whichoshowsothatothereowasohugeogapoinotheoconsumptionopatternoandothatotheo consumption/billingo reflectedo ino theo amounto demandedo byo theo respondent-DistributionoLicenseeowasoinaccurate,odiscrepantoandoshowedohugeodifference.o Repeatedoremindersowereothusosubmitted.ooAsonooactionowasotakenothereupon,o CWPoNo.1320oofo2021owasofiledobyotheopetitionerobeforeotheoHighoCourt.oTheo saidopetitionowasodisposedovideoorderodatedo21.01.2021owithoaodirectionotootheo respondentsotoopassoaospeakingoorderowithinoaoperiodoofotenodaysofromotheodateo oforeceiptoofocertifiedocopyoofotheosaidoorder.oTheorepresentationohad,othereafter,o beenodecidedovideoimpugnedoorderodatedo08.02.2021owhichoisoaosubjectomattero CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -4-o o o Theo respondents,o ino theiro replyo haveo specificallyo statedo thato theo representationo submittedo byo theo petitionero waso dulyo consideredo byo theo respondent-DistributionoLicenseeoandoasoperotheosaleoinstructionsoNo.U-9-2020o ofotheorespondent-DistributionoLicensee,o25%oofotheofixedochargesoinotheobillsoofo March,oApriloandoMayo2020owereowaivedooff.oItowasofurtheroaverredothatotheo petitioneroisoaochronicodefaulteroandohasoalwaysobeenomakingopartopaymentsoofo consumptionoofoelectricityosinceotheoyearo2016oandotheodisputeodoesonotorelateotoo theocoronaoperiodoalone.oSupplyoofotheopetitionerocouldonotobeodisconnectedoono accounto ofo spreado ofo COVID-19o ando theo billo waso rectifiedo ino theo montho ofo Marcho2021.oAocompleteoledgeroalongwithotheocopyoofotheospeakingoorderohaso beenoappendedoalongwithotheoreply.oAonoticeowasosentotootheopetitionerobyotheo SDOo(Operation)oSuboDivisionoNo.1,oUHBVNL,oRohtakovideomemooNo.288o datedo23.02.2021oraisingoaodemandoforoanooutstandingoamountoRs.42,56,847/-.o Theo detailso ofo theo paymentso madeo byo theo petitionero sinceo Januaryo 2018o too Octobero2020ohasoalsoobeenomentionedoinoparagraphoNo.9oofotheoaforesaidoshorto replyofiledobyoMehtaboSingh,oExecutiveoEngineer,oOperationoSub-UrbanoCityo Division,o UHBVNLo ando ano outstandingo amounto pendingo ino theo montho ofo Octobero2020owasoRs.47,71,111/-.ooItowasopointedooutothatotheobenefitoofoallo amountsodepositedobyotheopetitioneroasowelloasoconcessionoadmissibleotoohimo wasodulyotakenointooconsiderationobyotheorespondent-Authorityowhileopassingo theoorderoonotheorepresentationosubmittedobyotheopetitioneroandoinocomplianceotoo theoorderopassedobyothisoCourt.oThereoisonooaccessoamountodepositedobyotheo petitionerowithotheorespondent-Departmentoandothatotheoclaimoofotheopetitionero forowaiverotootheotuneoofoRs.68,62,961/-owouldobeoadmissibleoifotheopetitioneroiso readyotoopayotheobalanceoamountooutstandingoagainstohim.oo CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -5-o o o Thereafter,o ao detailedo writteno statemento waso alsoo filedo byo theo ExecutiveoEngineer,oOperationoDivision,oUHBVNL,oRohtakogivingocompleteo detailsoaboutotheoduesoandoreceiptsoagainstotheoaccountoofotheopetitioner.oItowaso alsoopointedooutoinotheoaforesaidowrittenostatementothatopursuantotootheodecisiono datedo08.02.2021,oaoseparateorepresentationowasosubmittedobyotheopetitioneroono

17.02.2021owhichowasodecidedoono23.02.2021,owhereinoitowasospecificallyostatedo thato ano amounto ofo Rs.42,56,847/-o iso outstandingo againsto theo accounto ofo theo petitioner.oTheopetitionerorequestedotoodepositotheosameowithinoaoperiodoofoseveno days.o Heo failedo too doo theo needfulo whereupon,o theo electricityo supplyo waso disconnected.oTheopetitionerothereafteroapproachedothisoCourtoandovideoordero datedo16.03.2021opassedoinotheopresentopetition,otheopetitionerowasorequiredotoo deposito ano amounto ofo Rs.10,00,000/-o againsto theo restorationo ofo electricityo connection.oTheoaforesaidoorderodatedo16.03.2021oinotheopresentopetitionowaso challengedobyotheopetitioneroinoLPAoNo.965oofo2021,owhichowasodecidedoono

08.10.2021,o wherebyo theo Divisiono Bencho orderedo theo petitionero too payo Rs.5,00,000/-owithinoaoperiodoofofifteenodaysoandotheoremainingoRs.5,00,000/-o withinoaoperiodoofofouroweeksofailingowhichotheorespondent-Departmentowouldo beoatolibertyotoodisconnectotheoelectricityosupply.oInotermsoofotheoorderopassedobyo theo Divisiono Bencho ando ono deposito ofo Rs.50,00,000/-o ono 21.20.2021,o theo electricityo supplyo waso restoredo ono 22.10.2021.o Theo remainingo amounto ofo Rs.5,00,000/-owasoalsoodepositedobyohimoono08.11.2021.oSinceo08.11.2021,otheo petitionerohasonotodepositedoanyobilloandorepeatedonoticesohaveobeenosentotootheo petitioneroandotheooutstandingoamountoasoperotheoaforesaidostatementofiledoono

29.08.2022owasoRs.68,62,961/-.oo o o Ano applicationo bearingo No.CM-9252-CWP-2022o waso thereaftero submittedobyotheopetitioneroforoseekingodirectionsotoorespondentsotooconsiderotheo CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -6-o Annexureso P-15o too P-17o witho regardo too refund/reimbursemento ofo accesso paymentotootheootuneoofoRs.1,39,00,000/-oplusointerestotootheopetitioneroandotoonoto disconnecto theo connectiono ofo electricityo duringo theo pendencyo ofo theo presento petition.oTheopetitioneroclaimedotoohaveodepositedoanoaccessoamountoandothatotheo documentso oughtotoobeotakenointoo considerationo andothatotheoaccesso amounto shouldobeorefundedotootheopetitioneroalongwithointerest.oAoseparateoapplicationo bearingo No.CM-9253-CWP-2022o foro prayingo ano interimo reliefo waso alsoo submittedobyotheopetitioner.o o o Theo respondent-Distributiono Licensee,o however,o filedo additionalo affidavito alongwitho CM-3754-CWP-2023.o Theo relevanto extracto ofo theo sameo readsothus:o "1.oThatovideointerimoorderodatedo16.03.2021,othisoHon'bleoCourto hado directedo thato theo electricityo connectiono too theo petitioner'so premisesobeorestoredouponoprovisionalodepositoofoRs.10olakhsoando whichowouldobeosubjectotootheoadjustmentoasoalsoooutcomeoofotheo instantowritopetition.oTheoorderodatedo16.03.2021oreadsoasounder:-o o "Mattero haso beeno takeno upo througho Videoo ConferencingoviaoWebExofacilityoinotheolightoofotheoPandemico Covid-19osituationoandoasoperoinstructions.o o Oneoofotheocontentionsoraisedobyocounseloisothatotheo petitionerohadomadeodueopaymentsoagainstoelectricityobillso raisedoforotheoperiodo2010otilloMarcho2020oandoasosuchohaso notobeenoinodefaultoFurtherosubmissionoadvancedoisothatotheo default,oifoany,owouldobeopertainingotoMarch,o2020oonwardso whenoCovid-19osituationohadocommenced.o o Counseloisodirectedotooplaceoonorecordotheorelevanto documents/materialotoosubstantiateosuchoassertion.o o Noticeoofomotion,oreturnableoforo19.04.2021o o Ino theo meanwhile,o electricityo connectiono too theo petitioner'so premiseso wouldo beo restoredo upono provisionalo CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -7-o deposito ofo Rs10o lakhso ando whicho wouldo beo subjecto too adjustmentoasoalsoooutcomeoofotheoinstantowritopetition."o However,o insteado ofo complyingo witho theo ordero passedo byo theo Hon'bleoCourt,otheopetitionerofiledoC.M.No.6123oofo2021,oprayingo thato electricityo connectiono beo restoredo withouto deposito ofo Rs.10o lakhsoasohasobeenodirected.oHowever,otheosaidoC.M.owasodismissedo byothisoHon'bleoCourtovideoorderodatedo16.07.2021oTheorelevanto partoofotheoorderodatedo16.07.2021oreadsoasounder-o "CMoNo.6123-CWPoofo2021o o Prayeroinothisoapplicationoisoforomodificationoofoordero datedo16.3.2021otootheoextentothatoelectricityoconnectionobeo restoredowithoutodepositoofoRs.o10olakhoasohasobeenodirected.o o Afterohearingolearnedocounseloforotheoparties,oIodoonoto findo anyo groundo too modifyo saido order.o Ito iso specificallyo mentionedo ino ordero datedo 16o 3.2021o thato electricityo connectiono too petitioner'so premiseso beo restoredo upono provisionalodepositoofoRs.o10olakhowhichowouldofurtherobeo subjectotooadjustmentoasowelloasooutcomeoofotheoinstantowrito petition.o o Noogroundoisomadeooutoforoanyomodificationoofosaido orderoatothisostage.o o Ino caseo saido deposito iso madeo byo theo petitioner,o electricityo connectiono too theo petitioner'so premiseso beo restoredoimmediatelyo o Applicationoisoaccordinglyodismissed"o

2.o Thato thereafter,o theo petitionero filedo LPAo No.965o ofo 2021o challengingotheoorderodatedo16.3.2021.oTheosaidoLPAowasodisposedo ofovideoorderodatedo08.10.2021,oallowingotheopetitionerotoodeposito Rso5olakhsowithinoaoperiodoofo15odaysoandotheoelectricityoconnectiono beorestoredoandoremainingoamountoofoRso5olakhsowithino4oweeks,o failingo which,o libertyo waso giveno too disconnecto theo electricityo connection.oTheoorderodatedo08.10.2021oreadsoasounder-o CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -8-o o "Presentoappealohasobeenopreferredochallengingotheo orderodatedo16o03.2021owherebyoaoconditionowasoimposedo thato ino caseo theo appellanto depositso ano amounto ofo Rso 10,00,000/-,o electricityo connectiono too theo premiseso ino questiono wouldo beo restoredo provisionallyo ando theo saido amountowouldobeoadjustedosubjectotootheooutcomeoofotheowrito petitionoAnoapplicationoforomodificationoofotheosaidoordero wasomovedowhichohasoalsoobeenodismissedoono16.07.2021o whichoorderohasoalsoobeenochallengedobyotheopetitioneroino theopresentoappeal.o o Learnedo Counselo foro theo appellanto submitso thato keepingo ino viewo theo facto thato becauseo ofo Covid-19,o theo premiseso whicho iso ao mallo waso closedo thereo haso beeno noo incomeo fromo anyo sourceo Now,o permissionso haveo beeno grantedoforoopeningotheomalls.oBecauseoofopaucityoofofunds,o theo appellanto iso unableo too deposito theo amounto ofRs.o 10,00,000/-oinooneogooandopraysorelaxationowithoregardotoo theo deposito ofo theo saido amounto foro someo Counselo foro theo appellanto stateso thato ano amounto ofo Rs.5,00,000/-o willo beo depositedobyotheoappellantowithinotheoperiodoofotwooweekso fromo todayo ando theo remainingo amounto ofRs.5,00,000/-o ino anotherofouroweeks.oHeofurtheroprayedothatoonodepositoofoano initialo amounto ofo Rs.5,00,000/-,o theo electricityo connectiono mayobeoprovisionallyorestoredosubjectotootheodepositoofotheo remainingoamountowithinofurtheroperiodoofofouroweeks.o o Theo prayero madeo byo theo counselo foro theo appellanto appearsotoobeojustoandoreasonableoandotherefore,oweoaccepto theosameoandodisposeoofotheopresentoappealobyopermittingotheo appellanto too deposito ano amounto ofo Rs.5,00,000/-o withino ao periodo ofo 15o dayso fromo todayo ono whicho theo electricityo connectiono shallo beo restoredo provisionally.o Ino caseo theo remainingo amounto ofo Rs.5,00,000/-o iso depositedo byo theo appellantowithinoaofurtheroperiodoofofouroweeks.oTheointerimo arrangementoshallocontinueoFailingowhichotheorespondentso CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -9-o willobeoatolibertyotoodisconnectotheoelectricityoconnectionosoo grantedoinopursuanceotoothisoorder."o Inocomplianceoofotheoorderopassed,otheopetitionerodepositedoRs.5o lakhso ono 21.10.2021o ando theo connectiono waso restored.o Theo remainingoamountoofoRs.o5olakhsoasoperoorderoinoLPAowasoalsoo depositedobyotheopetitioneroono08.11.2021.o

3.oo Thatoafterorestorationoofoelectricityoconnectionoasoperoorderso passedobyotheoHon'bleoHighoCourt,othoughoelectricityowasobeingo used,o buto theo petitionero dido noto makeo anyo paymentso too theo departmento ofo electricityo bills/consumptiono charges.o Theo consumptiono chargeso payableo fromo Decembero 2021o too Januaryo 2023,oafteromakingopermissibleoadjustments,oareoRs.51,84,359/-oouto ofo whicho theo petitionero haso depositedo onlyo Rs.4,00,000/-o ono

30.11.2022oandoRs.o3,00,000/-oono10.02.2023.o

4.o Thatoitowouldobeopertinentotoomentionohereothatotheopetitionero waso alreadyo ao defaultero ofo ano amounto ofo Rs.50.41.751/-o aso ono Novembero2021oandoafterorestoringotheoelectricityoconnectionoino Octobero 2021,o heo haso noto beeno makingo paymentso ofo electricityo consumptionocharges/bill.o

5.oo Thato ito iso humblyo submittedo thato petitioner'so electricityo connectionobearingoAccountoNo.092260000owasoreleasedoinoyearo 2011oandotheopetitionerohasopaidoregularobillsofromoyearo2011otillo Septembero 2015.o Thereafter,o theo petitionero startedo makingo parto paymentsofromoSeptembero2015otilloJanuaryo2023.oAndoatopresento theopetitioneroisoaodefaulteroofoanoamountoofoRs.1,15,84,781/-o(Oneo croreofifteenolakhsoeighty-fourothousandosevenohundredoeightyoone)o asoonodatedo21.01.2023.o

6.oo Thatotheorepresentationsomadeobyotheopetitionerohaveobeeno consideredoandoallotheoelectricityobillsoissuedoonoprovisionalobasiso ofopetitionerowereorectified.oEvenotheoledgeroaccountoofoallotheobillso sinceoJulyo2011oupotillo21.01.2023ohasoalsoobeenohandedooverotootheo petitioner.oForotheokindoperusaloofotheoHon'bleoCourtotheosameoiso annexedo aso (Annexureo R-A1).o Ito iso furthero submittedo that,o theo CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -10-o relaxationo ofo Covid-19o periodo haso alsoo beeno providedo too theo petitioneroasoperoUHBVNLosaleoinstructionso4/21(AnnexureoR-A2).o

7.oo Thato aso pero UHBVNLo Saleo Circularo Usws-12/2022o (Annexureo R-o A3)regardingo Surchargeo Waivero Scheme,o 2022o ao consumeromustofulfillotheocertainoconditionsotoobecomeoeligibleoforo consideration.o Theo consumerso whoseo caseso areo pendingo ino anyo judicialo forum,o ono accounto ofo billingo disputeso areo noto coveredo underotheoscheme,ohoweveroifotheoconsumerowithdrawsohisocase,oheo willobeoeligibleotootakeotheobenefitoofotheoScheme.oTheoschemeowaso validotillo31oJanuaryo2023.oTheopetitionerowasodulyoapprisedoabouto allotheoconditionsorequiredotoobecomeoeligibleoforotheoscheme,ovideo MemooNo.oSWS-2odatedo12.10.2022o(AnnexureoR-A4)ohowever,oheo didonotocomplyowithotheorequisiteoconditions,oandotherefore,oheoiso notoconsideredoforosurchargeowaiveroscheme.o

8.oo ThatotheoNigamohasogivenoseveralonoticesotootheopetitionero foromakingopaymentsoofoelectricityobillsobutotheopetitionerodidonoto madeo payments,o Copieso ofo theo noticeso servedo too petitionero areo annexedoaso(AnnexureoR-A5).oItoisofurtherosubmittedothatodueotoo someointernalofaultoinoelectricityoinfrastructureoofotheopetitioner,o eveno theo departmento hado facedo frequento breakdowno ofo feedero severalo times,o therefore,o video Memoo No.234o datedo 31.01.2023o (AnnexureoR-A6),otheopetitionerowasoaskedotoogetotheointernalofaultso rectifiedosoothatotheobreakdownoofoNigamofeederobeoavoided.o

9.oo Thatotheopetitioneroisohimselfonotosettlingotheoaccountsowitho theo Nigam.o Since,o theo petitionero iso ino defaulto ofo Nigamo dueso therefore,oheoisonotoentitledotooclaimoanyoreliefofromothisoHon'bleo Court.o

10.oo ThatoforotheokindoperusaloofotheoHon'bleoCourtotheodetailoofo totalobilloraisedoandoamountoreceivedofromoJulyo2011otooJanuaryo 2023oareotabulatedoasounder:-o o Totaloamountoofobillsopayableofromo Ao Rs.10,67,24,756/-o Julyo2011otooJanuaryo2023k Totalo provisionalo adjustmentso Bo Rs.65,63,470/-o CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -11-o madeo fromo Julyo 2011o too Januaryo 2023.o NETo amounto payableo fromo Julyo A-Bo 10,01,61,286/-o 2011otooJanuaryo2023o Totalo paymento receivedo fromo Julyo Co Rs.8,85,76,505/-o 2011otooJanuaryo2023.o TotaloamountodueofromoJulyo2011o A-B-Co 1,15,84,781/-"o tooJanuaryo2023o o o o Itoisoevidentofromotheoperusaloofotheoaboveothatotheorespondent-DistributionoLicenseeohasopointedooutothatotheofilingoofotheopresentopetitionoando theosuccessiveolitigationoonlyoaoployotoodelayotheodepositingotheoduesothatoareo beingoclaimedobyotheopetitioner.o o o Perocontra,otheolearnedocounseloforotheopetitionerocontendsothatohiso accountso aso wello aso theo paymentso madeo byo himo areo noto beingo takeno intoo consideration.oo o o Iohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheorespectiveopartiesoandohaveo goneothroughotheodocumentsoandorecordoavailableoonocaseofileowithotheiroableo assistance.o o o Evidently,o theo disputeo ino questiono relateso too theo billso ando theo payments,oifoany,odepositedobyotheopetitioner.oWhileotheopetitioneroclaimsothatoheo haso depositedo ano accesso ofo Rs.1,39,00,000/-o witho theo respondents,o theo respondentsoinotheirodetailedoadditionaloaffidavitohaveogivenotheodetailsoasopero whichoanoamountoofoRs.1,59,00,000/-oapproximatelyoisodueotoobeorecoveredofromo theopetitioner.oTheyofurtheroreiteratedothatoafteroavailingotheointerimoorderofromo thiso Court,o theo petitionero haso choseno noto too deposito theo billso thato accruedo thereafter.oItoisosuggestedothatotheopendencyoofotheopresentopetitionoisoonlyousedo asoaoployobyotheopetitionerotoonotopayotheoduesoofotheorespondent-Distributiono Licensee.o o o Sectiono42oofotheoElectricityoAct,o2003oprovidesoforoestablishmento ofoaoForumofororedressaloofogrievancesoofoconsumersoandotheoauthorityotoobeo CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -12-o knownoasoOmbudsman.oTheorelevantoprovisionsoofoSectiono42oofotheoElectricityo Actoareoreproducedohereinafterobelow:-o "Sectiono42.o(Dutiesoofodistributionolicenseeoandoopenoaccess):o-o

(1)oItoshallobeotheodutyoofoaodistributionolicenseeotoodevelopoando maintaino ano efficient,o co-ordinatedo ando economicalo distributiono systemoinohisoareaoofosupplyoandotoosupplyoelectricityoinoaccordanceo withotheoprovisionsocontainedoinothisoAct.o xxoxxoxxoxxo

(5)oo Everyodistributionolicenseeoshall,owithinosixomonthsofromotheo appointedodateoorodateoofograntoofolicence,owhicheveroisoearlier,o establishoaoforumofororedressaloofogrievancesoofotheoconsumersoino accordanceowithotheoguidelinesoasomayobeospecifiedobyotheoStateo Commission.oo

(6)oo Anyo consumer,o whoo iso aggrievedo byo non-redressalo ofo hiso grievancesounderosub-sectiono(5),omayomakeoaorepresentationoforo theo redressalo ofo hiso grievanceo too ano authorityo too beo knowno aso Ombudsmano too beo appointedo oro designatedo byo theo Stateo Commission.o

(7)oo TheoOmbudsmanoshallosettleotheogrievanceoofotheoconsumero withinosuchotimeoandoinosuchomanneroasomayobeospecifiedobyotheo StateoCommission."oo o o Theo Haryanao Electricityo Regulatoryo Commissiono notifiedo theo ElectricityoSupplyoCodeoinoexerciseoofotheopowersoconferredouponoitobyoSectiono 50o ando Sectiono 181(2)(x)o ofo theo Electricityo Act,o 2003o notifiedo theo Haryanao ElectricityoRegulatoryoCommissiono(ElectricityoSupplyoCode)oRegulationso2014o repealingotheoCodeoofo2014.oClauseo15oofotheoaforesaidoElectricityoSupplyoCodeo dealsowithotheocomplaint'soredressalosystem.oTheorelevantoprovisionoreadsothus:-o "o15.oComplaintsoredressalosystemo 1)o Anyo aggrievedo person,o electricityo consumer,o consumero associationoorolegaloheirsooroauthorizedorepresentativeso(inocaseoofo CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -13-o deatho ofo ao consumer)o mayo fileo ao complainto ino theo respectiveo ConsumeroGrievancesoRedressaloForumso(CGRF)oestablishedobyo theolicensee,oforosettlementoofotheirogrievancesoinocase:-o

(i)othereoexitsodefectoofodeficiencyoinoelectricityoserviceoprovidedobyo theodistributionolicensee;o

(ii)oanounfairoororestrictiveotradeopracticeohasobeenoadoptedobyotheo distributionolicenseeoinoprovidingoelectricityoservices;o

(iii)otheodistributionolicenseeohasochargedoaorateoinoexcessoofothato fixedo byo theo Commission,o foro supplyo ofo electricityo ando relatedo services;o

(iv)otheodistributionolicenseeohasorecoveredoexpenses,oinoexcessoofo chargeso approvedo byo theo Commission,o ino providingo anyoelectrico lineooroelectricoplantooroelectricometer;o

(v)otheoelectricityoservicesoprovidedobyotheodistributionolicenseeoiso unsafeoorohazardousotoopublicolifeoandoisoinocontraventionotootheo provisionsoofoanyolawoinoforce;o exceptotheocomplaintopertainingoto-o

(i)oUnauthorizedouseoofoelectricityoasodefinedounderoexplanationotoo Sectiono126oofotheoElectricityoActo2003;o

(ii)oOffencesoandopenaltiesoasospecifiedounderoSectionso135otoo139o ofotheoElectricityoActo2003;o

(iii)oAccidentsoandoinquiriesoasospecifiedounderoSectiono161oofotheo Electricityo Acto 2003o unlesso prescribedo byo theo stateo govt.o byo general/specialoorder.o TheoForumoshallopassoorderowithinoaomaximumoperiodoofo3omonthso fromotheodateooforeceiptoofocomplaint.o 2)o Anyo consumero aggrievedo byo theo ordero ofo theo Forum,o nono implementationo ofo theo ordero ofo theo Forumo byo theo distributiono licenseeoandonon-disposaloofocomplaintobyotheoForumowithinotheo prescribedo periodo mayo lodgeo hiso complainto witho theo Electricityo Ombudsmanowithino30odaysofromotheodateooforeceiptoofoorderoofotheo CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -14-o Forum.oTheoElectricityoOmbudsmanoshallopassotheoawardowithino03o monthsofromotheodateooforeceiptoofotheocomplaint."o o StillofurtherotheoHaryanaoElectricityoRegulatoryoCommissionohado videoNotificationodatedo29.03.2019,oinoexerciseoofotheopowersoconferredoonoitobyo Sectiono181oreadowithosub-sectionso5otoo8oofoSectiono42oofotheoElectricityoAct,o 2003,o notifiedo witho theo HERCo (Guidelineso foro establishmento ofo Forumo foro Redressalo ofo Grievanceso ofo theo Consumers,o Electricityo Ombudsmano ando ConsumeroAdvocacy)oRegulationso2019.oTheorelevantoprovisionsoofotheosaido Regulationsoareoreproducedoasounder:-o "i)o"Complainant"omeansoandoincludesotheofollowingowhoohaveoao grievanceoasodefinedoinotheseoRegulations:o

(i)oAoconsumeroasodefinedounderoClauseo(15)oofoSectiono2oofotheo Act;o Providedo thato ao membero ofo theo Groupo Housingo Societyo havingo "Singleo Pointo Connection'o fromo theo licensee"o iso alsoo ao deemedo consumeroforotheopurposeoofothisoRegulation.o j)o Electricityo Ombudsman"o meanso ano authorityo appointedo oro designatedobyotheoCommission,ounderosub-sectiono(6)oofoSectiono42o ofotheoAct.o l)o "Grievance"o oro complainto meanso anyo fault,o imperfection,o shortcomingooroinadequacyoinotheoquality,onatureoandomanneroofo performanceo whicho haso beeno undertakeno too beo performedo byo ao distributionolicenseeoinopursuanceoofoaolicense,ocontract,oagreemento orounderotheoElectricityoSupplyoCodeooroinorelationotoostandardsoofo performanceo ofo distributiono licenseeo aso specifiedo byo theo Commissiono ando includeso billingo disputeso ofo anyo natureo ando mattersorelatedotoosafetyoofotheodistributionosystemohavingopotentialo ofoendangeringoofolifeooropropertyobyowhichotheocomplainantoiso aggrieved.o m)o"Forum"omeansotheoForumofororedressaloofogrievancesoofotheo consumerso requiredo too beo establishedo byo distributiono licensees,o CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -15-o pursuanto too sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono 42o ofo theo Acto ando theseo Regulations.o p)o "Representationo oro complaint"o shallo meano theo representation/complainto madeo too theo Ombudsmano byo theo complainantooroonobehalfoofosuchoaocomplainantowhooisoaggrievedo byotheooutcomeoofotheoForum'soproceedingsoinorespectoofohis/hero grievanceo (includingo noto issuingo theo ordero withino theo specifiedo time-limit,o dissatisfactiono witho theo ordero issued,o partialo oro fullo dismissaloofotheogrievance).o Classificationoofogrievanceso "2.31oAsofaroasoisopossibleoandopractical,otheogrievanceoshallobeo prioritizedofororedressalobasedoonotheofollowingopriorityoorder:-o a)o Disconnectiono ofo supply/Re-connectiono ofo supplyo aftero Disconnectiono b)o Connection—Releaseo ofo newo Connectiono oro modificationo ino existingoconnectiono c)oNon-supplyo d)oMeterorelatedoissuesoo e)oBillingoandorelatesoissueso f)oOtheroissueso Providedothatoitoshouldobeoensuredothatoallogrievancesoareodisposedo ofowithinotheotimeolimitospecifiedounderotheseoRegulations.o Processoforosubmissionoofogrievanceo

2.32o Theo Complainanto cano submito his/hero grievanceo too theo appropriateo Forumo undero whoseo jurisdictiono his/hero connectiono existsooroaoconnectionohasobeenoappliedofor.oTheoComplainantocano alsoosubmitohis/herogrievanceoatotheonearestocomplaint-receivingo centre,oalreadyoestablishedobyotheolicensee.oTheogrievanceomayobeo submittedoeitheroinopersonoorothroughopost,ooroemailoorofax.o

2.33oAllocomplaint-receivingocentersoshalloacceptotheogrievanceso fromoComplainantsofallingowithinotheojurisdictionoofotheoForumoando CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -16-o forwardotheosame,oalongowithootherosupportingodocumentsotootheo appropriateoForumowithinotheonextotwooworkingodays.o

2.34oTheogrievanceoshallobeosubmittedoasoperotheoformatospecifiedo inoAnnexure-1oandoAnnexure-2orespectivelyoforoDakshinoHaryanao BijlioVitranoNigamoLtd.oandoUttaroHaryanaoBijlioVitranoNigamoLtd.o Theocomplainantocanonominateoanyopersono(notonecessarilyotoobeo anoAdvocate)otoopresentohisocaseoonotheoprescribedoformatowhichoiso atoAnnexure-3.oNominationocanobeofiledoatoanyotimeobeforeooroono theodateoofohearing."o o o Chaptero3oofotheoaforesaidoRegulationsodealsowithotheoofficeoofotheo Ombudsman.o Ito iso significanto too pointo outo thato botho theo aforesaido statutoryo Forumso i.e.o Theo Consumero Grievanceso Redressalo Forumo aso wello aso theo ElectricityoOmbudsmanoareodulyoconstitutedoandoareofunctional.o o o Ito iso alsoo relevanto too pointo outo thato theo Haryanao Electricityo Regulatoryo Commissiono notifiedo theo HERCo (Forumo ando Ombudsman)o Regulations,o2020oinosupersessionoofotheoearlieroRegulationsoono24.01.2020.oTheo relevantoClausesoofotheosaidoRegulationsoreadothus:-o "(d)o"Complainant"omeanso&oincludesoanyoofotheofollowingowhoo haveo ao grievanceo aso definedo ino theseo regulationso ando makeso ao complaint;o

(i)oaoconsumeroasodefinedounderosub-sectiono15oofosectiono2oofotheo Act;oo

(ii)oanyoconsumersoassociationoregisteredounderoanyolawoforotheo timeobeingoinoforce;o

(iii)oanyoun-registeredoassociationoorogroupoofoconsumersowhereo theoconsumersohaveocommonoorosimilarointerest;o

(iv)oinocaseoofodeathoofoaoconsumer,ohisolegaloheirsooroauthorizedo representative;o CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -17-o

(v)oanyootheropersonoclaimingothroughooroauthorizedobyooroactingo asoagentoforotheoconsumeroandoaffectedobyotheoserviceoorobusinesso carriedooutobyotheodistributionolicensee;o

(vi)oanoapplicantoforoaonewoelectricityoconnection.o

(e)o "complaint'o meanso anyo grievanceo ino writingo madeo byo ao complainantothato:oo

(i)oanounfairotradeopracticeooroaorestrictiveotradeopracticeohasobeeno adoptedobyotheolicenseeoinoprovidingoelectricityoservice;o

(ii)otheoelectricityoservicesohiredooroavailedoofooroagreedotoobeohiredo oroavailedoofobyohimosufferofromodefectoorodeficiencyoinoanyorespect;o

(iii)oaolicenseeohasochargedoforoelectricityoservicesomentionedoinotheo complaint,oaopriceoinoexcessoofotheopriceofixedobyotheoCommission;o

(iv)oelectricityoservicesowhichoareohazardousotoolifeoandosafetyowheno availed,oareobeingoofferedoforouseotootheopublicoinocontraventionoofo theoprovisionsoofoanyolawoforotheotimeobeingoinoforceooroofoanyo licence;o

(v)o violationo haso occurredo ofo anyo lawo oro licenceo requiringo theo licenseeo too displayo theo informationo ino regardo too theo mannero oro effectoofouseoofotheoelectricaloservices;ooro

(vi)obreachohasooccurredoofoanyoobligationobyotheolicenseeowhicho adverselyoaffectsoanyoconsumeroorowhichotheoForumomayoconsidero appropriateotoobeotreatedoasoaocomplaint.o

(g)o "consumero grievance"o meanso &o includeso anyo complainto relatingo too anyo fault,o imperfection,o shorto coming,o defecto oro deficiencyo ino theo quality,o natureo ando mannero ofo serviceo oro performanceo ino pursuanceo ofo ao licence,o contract,o agreemento oro undero Electricityo Supplyo Codeo oro ino relationo too Standardso ofo Performanceo specifiedo byo theo Commissiono paymento ofo compensationo oro billingo disputeso ofo anyo natureo oro recoveryo ofo chargesobyotheolicenseeoandomattersorelatingotootheosafetyoofotheo distributiono systemo havingo potentialo ofo endangeringo theo lifeo oro property.oHowever,otheomatteropertainingotooOpenoAccessograntedo underotheoActoandoSectiono126,o127,o135otoo140,o142,o143,o146,o152o CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -18-o ando 161o ofo theo Acto shallo noto formo grievanceo undero theseo regulations."oo o o Theo aforesaido Regulationso specifyo theo consumero complainto handlingoprocedureoasowelloasotheojurisdictionoofotheoCommission.oTheoForumo hasoalsoobeenogivenopowersotooissueointerimodirectionsopendingofinalodisposaloofo suchogrievanceounderoRegulationo2.46othereof.oTheosameoisoextractedoherein-after-below:-o "SpecialoProvisiono:oInterimoOrder:o

2.46o Upono requesto ofo theo Complainant,o theo Forumo mayo issueo sucho interimoordersopendingofinalodisposaloofotheogrievanceoasoitomayo considero necessaryo includingo buto noto restrictedo too granto ofo temporaryoinjunctionotoostayooropreventoororestrainosuchoactoasotheo Forumothinksofit.o ProvidedothatotheoForumoshallohaveotheopowersotoopassosuchoano interimoorderoinoanyoproceeding,ohearingooromatterobeforeoit,oasoito mayoconsideroappropriateoifotheoComplainantosatisfiesotheoForumo thato primaofacie,otheo Distributiono Licenseeo haso threatenedo oro iso likelyotooremoveoorodisconnectotheoelectricityoconnection,oandohaso oroisolikelyotoocontraveneoanyoprovisionsoofotheoActooroanyorulesoando regulationso madeo thereundero oro anyo ordero ofo theo Commission,o providedothatotheoForumohasojurisdictionoonosuchomatter.oProvidedo furtherothat,oexceptowhereoitoappearsothatotheoobjectoofopassingosucho theo interimo ordero wouldo beo defeatedo byo delay,o noo sucho interimo orderoshallobeopassedounlessotheooppositeopartyohasobeenogivenoano opportunityoofobeingoheard.o Providedoalsoothatowhereoanyoinjunctionohasobeenograntedobyotheo Forumowithoutonoticeotootheooppositeoparty,otheoForumoshallomakeo effortsotoofinallyodisposeoofotheoapplicationowithino30odaysofromotheo dateoonowhichotheoinjunctionowasogranted.o CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -19-o Providedoalsoothatoanyointerimoorderomayobeoreviewed/setoasideobyo theoForumoonoanoapplicationomadeobyoanyopartyoifoitoisofoundothato theocomplainantohasomadeoaofalseooromisleadingostatement."o o o o AoreasonedoorderoisotoobeopassedobyotheoForum.oSimilaroprovisionso foroOmbudsmanohaveoalsoobeenoprescribedotherein.oTheoaforesaidoRegulationso wereoamendedovideoNotificationodatedo06.04.2022,ohowever,otheosameohasoinonoo wayodilutedotheoauthorityoofotheoConsumeroGrievancesoRedressaloForumoandohaso merelyo prescribedo thato theo Consumero Grievanceso Redressalo Forumo shallo beo establishedotoocaterotootheoneedsoofoCircle(District/ZoneoandoCompanyolevel)oino accordanceo witho theo Regulationso ando wouldo alsoo establisho oneo oro moreo CorporateoConsumeroGrievancesoRedressaloForum.oAospecialomechanismoforo resolutiono ofo Corporateo Consumero Grievanceso haso beeno providedo foro undero Regulationo 2.4.o Similaro provisionso ofo interimo orderso ando monitoringo ofo consumero grievanceso haveo alsoo beeno retainedo therein.o Theo saido Regulationso providedo foro redressalo ofo monetaryo complaintso ono theo basiso ofo pecuniaryo jurisdictionoasowelloinoRegulationo2.8othereof.oTheosameoisoextractedoasounder:-o "2.8oMonetaryoComplaintso Complaintso relatingo too theo supplyo ofo electricityo byo distributiono licenseeoinvolvingomonetaryodisputesoincludingobutonotolimitedotoo wrongobilling,oapplicationoofowrongotariffoorodifferenceoofoserviceo connectiono charges/generalo chargeso oro securityo (consumption),o overhaulingoofoaccountodueotoodefective/inaccurateometering,olevyo ofovoltageosurcharge,obillingoofosupplementaryoamountooroanyoothero chargesoexceptothoseoarisingoonomattersopertainingotooOpenoAccesso grantedounderotheoElectricityoAct,o2003oandoSectionso126,o127,o135o too140,o142,o143,o146,o152oando161oofotheoActoshallobeodisposedoofo byotheorespectiveoForumoinoaccordanceowithotheseoRegulationsoaso perotheomonetaryolimitsospecifiedoinoRegulationso2.8.1oando2.8.2o hereunder;o CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -20-o

2.8.1oCorporateoForumo

(i)oTheoCorporateoForumoshallohaveotheojurisdictionotoodisposeoofo allotheomonetaryodisputesoofoanoamountoexceedingoRs.oThreeolakhso (Rs.3,00,000/-)o ino eacho case.o Providedo thato theo complaint/representationoisomadeowithinotwooyearsofromotheodateoofo causeoofoaction.o

(ii)oAnyocomplainantoaggrievedobyonon-redressaloofohisogrievanceo withino theo timeo periodo specifiedo byo theo Commissiono oro iso noto satisfiedowithotheoredressaloofotheocomplaintobyotheoZonalooroCircleo Forumo mayo himselfo oro througho hiso authorizedo representative,o approachotheoCorporateoForumoinowritingoforotheoredressaloofohiso grievance.o Providedo thato theo Corporateo Forumo shallo entertaino onlyo thoseo complaintsoagainstotheoordersoofoZonalooroCircleoForum,oasotheo caseomayobe,owhereotheorepresentationoisomadeowithino2omonthso fromotheodateooforeceiptoofotheoordersooforespectiveoZonal/Circleo Forum,oasotheocaseomayobe.o ProvidedofurtherothatotheoCorporateoForumomay,ofororeasonsotoobeo recordedoinowriting,oentertainoaocomplaintowhichodoesonotomeetotheo aforesaidorequirements.o

2.8.2oZonal/Circle/DivisionaloForum:o

(i)oZonaloForum:o Theo Zonalo Forumo shallo haveo theo jurisdictiono too disposeo ofo theo complaintsoinvolvingomonetaryodisputesoofoanoamountoexceedingo Rs.Oneo lakho (Rs.1,00,000/-)o ando upo too Rs.o Threeo lakho (Rs.3,00,000/-)oinoeachocase.o

(ii)oCircleoForum:o Theo Circleo Forumo shallo haveo theo jurisdictiono too disposeo ofo theo complaintsoinvolvingomonetaryodisputesoofoanoamountoupotooRs.Oneo lakho(Rs.1,00,000/-)oinoeachocase."o CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -21-o

32.oTheobillingorelatedoissuesoareodealtowithounderoRegulationo2.22oofotheosaido Regulationsoasowelloandotheospecialoprovisionoforointerimoorderohasobeenokepto intactounderoRegulationo2.37.oo "SpecialoProvision:oInterimoOrder:o

2.37oUponorequestoofotheoComplainant,otheoForumomayoissueosucho interimoordersopendingofinalodisposaloofotheogrievanceoasoitomayo considero necessaryo includingo buto noto restrictedo too granto ofo temporaryoinjunctionotoostayooropreventoororestrainosuchoactoasotheo Forumothinksofit.oo ProvidedothatotheoForumoshallohaveotheopowersotoopassosuchoano interimoorderoinoanyoproceeding,ohearingooromatterobeforeoit,oasoito mayoconsideroappropriateoifotheoComplainantosatisfiesotheoForumo thato primaofacie,otheo Distributiono Licenseeo haso threatenedo oro iso likelyotooremoveoorodisconnectotheoelectricityoconnection,oandohaso oroisolikelyotoocontraveneoanyoprovisionsoofotheoActooroanyorulesoando regulationso madeo thereundero oro anyo ordero ofo theo Commission,o providedothatotheoForumohasojurisdictionoonosuchomatter.oProvidedo furtherothat,oexceptowhereoitoappearsothatotheoobjectoofopassingosucho theo interimo ordero wouldo beo defeatedo byo delay,o noo sucho interimo orderoshallobeopassedounlessotheooppositeopartyohasobeenogivenoano opportunityoofobeingoheard.o Providedoalsoothatowhereoanyoinjunctionohasobeenograntedobyotheo Forumowithoutonoticeotootheooppositeoparty,otheoForumoshallomakeo effortsotoofinallyodisposeoofotheoapplicationowithino30odaysofromotheo dateoonowhichotheoinjunctionowasogranted.o Providedoalsoothatoanyointerimoorderomayobeoreviewed/setoasideobyo theoForumoonoanoapplicationomadeobyoanyopartyoifoitoisofoundothato theocomplainantohasomadeoaofalseooromisleadingostatement."o o o o AoreferenceotootheoaforesaidoRegulationsoshowsothatotheostatuteohaso prescribedo foro Consumero Grievanceso Redressalo mechanismo whereo ao tariffo iso beingo demandedo overo ando aboveo theo tariffo approvedo byo theo appropriateo CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -22-o Commission.oTheoaboveostatutoryoauthoritiesohaveobeenodulyoconstitutedoandoareo requiredotoodecideotheocomplaintsoinoaotime-boundomanner.oEvenotheopowersoofo grantingointerimodirectionsohaveobeenoconferredouponotheoauthoritiesounderotheo statutoryoframework.o o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto hado ino theo mattero ofo Whirlo Poolo CorporationoVersusoRegistraroofoTrademarkso(1998)o8oSCCo1,oMumbaio ando Harbanslalo Sahnio Versuso Indiano Oilo Corporationo Limitedo (2003)o 2o SCCo107oasowelloasoinotheomatteroofoRadhaoKrishanoIndustriesoVersusoStateo ofoHimachaloPradesh,o2021oSCCoOnLineoSCo334osummarizedotheoprincipleso governingoexerciseoofowritopetitionoinotheopresenceoofoanoalternativeoremedy.oTheo sameoareoextractedoasounder:-o "25.o Whileo ao Higho Courto wouldo normallyo noto exerciseo itso writo jurisdictionounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoifoanoeffectiveoando efficaciouso alternateo remedyo iso available,o theo existenceo ofo ano alternateo remedyo doeso noto byo itselfo baro theo Higho Courto fromo exercisingoitsojurisdictionoinocertainocontingencies.oThisoprincipleo haso beeno crystallizedo byo thiso Courto ino Whirlo poolo Corporationo VersusoRegistraroofoTrademarks,oMumbaioandoHarbanslaloSahnio Versuso Indiano Oilo Corporationo Limited.o Recently,o ino Radhao Krishano Industrieso Versuso Stateo ofo Himachalo Pradesh,o ao twoo judgeoBenchoofothisoCourtoofowhichooneoofousowasoaopartoofo(Justiceo DYo Chandrachud)o hasosummarizedo theoprincipleso governingo theo exerciseoofowritojurisdictionobyotheoHighoCourtoinotheopresenceoofo anoalternateoremedy.oThisoCourtohasoobserved:o "28.oTheoprinciplesoofolawowhichoemergeoareothat:o

(i)oTheopowerounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionotooissueowritso cano beo exercisedo noto onlyo foro theo enforcemento ofo fundamentalo rights,obutoforoanyootheropurposeoasowell;o

(ii)o Theo Higho Courto haso theo discretiono noto too entertaino ao writo petition.oOneoofotheorestrictionsoplacedoonotheopoweroofotheoHigho CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -23-o Courtoisowhereoanoeffectiveoalternateoremedyoisoavailableotootheo aggrievedoperson;o

(iii)oExceptionsotootheoruleoofoalternateoremedyoariseowhereo(a)otheo writopetitionohasobeenofiledoforotheoenforcementoofoaofundamentalo rightoprotectedobyopartoIIIoofotheoConstitution;o(b)othereohasobeenoao violationo ofo theo principleso ofo naturalo justice;o (c)o theo ordero oro proceedingsoareowhollyowithoutojurisdiction;ooro(d)otheoviresoofoao legislationoisochallenged;o

(iv)oAnoalternateoremedyobyoitselfodoesonotodivestotheoHighoCourtoofo itsopowersounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoinoanoappropriateo caseothoughoordinarily,oaowritopetitionoshouldonotobeoentertainedo whenoanoefficaciousoalternateoremedyoisoprovidedobyolaw;o

(v)oWhenoaorightoisocreatedobyoaostatute,owhichoitselfoprescribesotheo remedyo oro procedureo foro enforcingo theo righto ofo liability,o resorto mustobeohadotoothatoparticularostatutoryoremedyobeforeoinvokingotheo discretionaryoremedyounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitution.oThiso ruleo ofo exhaustiono ofo statutoryo remedieso iso ao ruleo ofo policy,o convenienceoandodiscretion;oandoo

(vi)oInocasesowhereothereoareodisputedoquestionsoofofact,otheoHigho Courto mayo decideo too declineo jurisdictiono ino ao writo petition.o However,o ifo theo Higho Courto iso objectivelyo ofo theo viewo thato theo natureo ofo theo controversyo requireso theo exerciseo ofo itso writo jurisdiction,osuchoaoviewowouldonotoreadilyobeointerferedowith."o o o o Itoisothusoevidentofromotheoperusaloofotheoaboveojudicialoprecedentso thatoevenothoughowritojurisdictionoofoHighoCourtounderoArticleo226oisonotooustedo onoaomereoexistenceoofoanoalternativeoremedyoandotheoHighoCourtomayoexerciseo itso discretiono too entertaino theo writo petitionso ino appropriateo caseso whicho seeko enforcementoofotheofundamentalorightsoprotectedobyotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaooro theoproceedingsoareowhollyowithoutojurisdictionoand/oroinocircumstancesowhereo thereoisoaoblatantoviolationoofoprincipaloofonaturalojustice.oHowever,oatotheosameo timeotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtostatesothatowhenoaorightoisocreatedobyoaostatuteo CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -24-o whichoalsooprescribesotheoremedyooroprocedureoforoenforcingotheoright,oresorto musto beo hado too thato particularo statutoryo remedyo beforeo invokingo theo discretionaryoremedyounderoArticleo226.oo oo o Theo lawo aso laido downo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto doeso noto prohibito theo Higho Court(s)o fromo exerciseo ofo itso writo jurisdictiono ino ano appropriateocase,ohowever,oitoemphasizesotheoneedoofoexhortionoofotheostatutoryo remedieso ino circumstanceso whereo theo righto claimedo iso itselfo foundedo ino theo statute.oTheopetitionersohaveofailedotoopointooutoasotoohowotheoremedyoprescribedo underotheostatuteoisonotoefficaciousooroappropriate.oSurprisingly,otheoavermento containedoinotheopresentopetitionoisothatothereoisonooremedyoofoappealooforevisiono againstotheoimpugnedoactionsowhichosuchoavermentoisoincorrect.oThereocanobeonoo presumptiono thato theo statutoryo forumso shallo noto dischargeo theiro dutieso dispassionately,o impartiallyo ando upono appreciationo ofo intero seo meritso ofo theo claimolodgedobyotheorespectiveoparties.oThus,oitocannotobeosaidoatothisojunctureo thato circumstanceso existso ino whicho exerciseo ofo writo jurisdictiono iso theo onlyo efficaciousoremedyoavailableotooaopersonoandothatoanyorecourseotootheostatutoryo remediesowouldobeodefeatingotheorightsoofoaolitigant.oo oo o Undisputedly,otheopoweroofotheoCourtotooentertainoaowritodespiteo availabilityoofoanoalternativeoremedyoisonotoaoruleobutoanoexception.oOrdinarily,o theolitigantomustoexhaustoareotheostatutoryoremediesoavailableotoohimoandosimplyo cannoto knocko theo Higho Courto ato hiso discretiono merelyo foro theo sakeo ofo hiso convenience.oConfermentoofojurisdictionoandotheoobjectoofoprovidingostatutoryo remediesowouldobeodefeatedoifoconvenienceoofotheopartyoisotoobeoequatedotooao rightoandoaowritoCourtotakesouponoitselfotheoresponsibilityoasoaoforumoatotheofirsto instanceoonlyotooobliviateotheoprojectedohardshipobyotheopetitionersoorotoogiveo primacyotootheoconvenienceoofoaolitigant.oTheoCourtsohaveoalwaysoemphasizedo CWP-6204-2021o(O&M)o o -25-o thatotheolegislatureoshouldoalwaysoprovideoforostatutoryoremediesosoothatolitiganto isonotoforcedotoodirectlyoapproachotheoHighoCourt.oTheoprovisionoofotheostatutoryo remediesoisothusoinofurtheranceoofotheointentoofotheostatuteotooprovideoefficaciouso andoaffordableoremedyowhichoisomoreoconvenientotooaolitigantoandoisowithinotheo objectotooensureothatotheofactualoaspectsoofotheodisputeoareolookedointoobyothoseo statutoryoauthoritiesoandotheoissuesowhichorequireojudicialopronouncementoareo thenoleftoforofinaloadjudicationoofotheoHighoCourt.oByopassingoofotheostatutoryo remedyomakesotheoHighoCourtoasotheoforumoofofirstoinstanceotooadjudicateotheo factualoaspectoofoaocaseowhichowasoneitherodesiredonororequired.oThisoCourtohaso noo reasonso too holdo oro too believeo thato theo theo grievanceso espousedo byo theo petitionersoinotheopresentopetitionocannotobeolookedointoooroexaminedobyotheo statutoryoforumsoandoalsoofailsotoofindoanyovalidoexplanationoforonotoapproachingo theosaidostatutoryoforums.oo o oo Ino viewo ofo aforesaido statutoryo mechanismo availableo ando disputeo beingoinotheonatureoofoaobillingodispute,othereoisonoooccasionoforothisoCourtotoo exerciseoitsowritojurisdiction.oTheopresentopetitionoisoaccordinglyodismissed.oo o o Libertyois,ohowever,ograntedotootheopetitionersotooapproachotootakeo recourseotootheoalternativeoremediesoavailableotootheopetitionersoasoperotheostatueo orobeforeoaoForumosooadvised,oforoseekingoredressaloofotheirogrievances.oNothingo statedohereinoshouldobeoconstruedoasoanoexpressionoonotheomeritsoofotheoclaimoofo theopetitionersoandotheocompetentoauthority/forumoshallotakeoaodecisionoaftero assessingotheomeritsoofotheorespectiveoclaimomadeobyotheocompetentoparties.o o o o o o o o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)o

10.03.2023.oo o o o o o oooooo oooooooJUDGEo rajendero o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :oYes/Noo o o Whetheroreportableo o :oYes/Noo