IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.20849 of 2010 THE CHIEF ENGINEER(AIR FORCE) & ORS . Versus THE CHAIRMAN,BIHAR STATE ELECTRICITY BVOARD & ORS ----------- For the Petitioner : Mr. Sarvadeo Singh,Advocate For the Respondents: Ms. Neelu Agrawal, Advocate ------- 2. 22.02.2011 Heard learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Counsel for the Bihar State Electricity Board. The petitioner represented by the Indian Air Force through its Assistant Garrison Engineer at Bihar seeks a mandamus for introduction of separate reduced tariff schedule for Military Engineering Service on the ground that it is a deemed licensee under the Electricity Act, 2003. Further relief is sought for addition of new category of defence consumer in the tariff. The reliefs claimed primarily appear to be involving policy matters. The National Litigation Policy at Clause 8 (d) reads as follows:- “Litigation between Public Sector Undertakings inter se between Government Public Sector Undertakings is causing great concern. Every effort must be made to prevent such litigation. Before initiating such litigation, the matter must be placed before the highest authority in the public sector such as the CMD or MD. It will be his responsibility to endeavour to see whether the litigation can be avoided. If litigation cannot be avoided then alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation must be considered. Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure must be resorted to extensively.” This Court earlier in CWJC No. 17450 of 2009 disposed off on 4.1.2011 (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Vs The Chairman, Bihar State Electricity Board) has already expressed its anguish at inter departmental and inter governmental litigations being thrust upon the Court under Article 226 of the Constitution. The Court is already burdened with the citizen’s litigation. The State authorities are expected to display more caution by first attempting to resolve all such disputes departmentally. In view of the guidelines contained in the National Litigation Policy with regard to such litigation, by consent of the Counsel for the parties the matter is referred to the Secretary, Department of Energy, Government of Bihar who shall proceed to examine the grievances and take appropriate steps for its disposal in accordance with law expeditiously. The writ application stands disposed. Snkumar/- (Navin Sinha,J.)