THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V.RAMULU WRIT PETITION No.19767 of 2008 ORDER: Aggrieved by the action of the 1st respondent-Assistant Divisional Engineer, Operation/Town/Karimnagar, in issuing the provisional Assessment order in Lr.No.ADE/OP/TOWN/KNR/F.No.4035/D.No.200/08, dated 31.05.2008, whereunder the petitioner was demanded to pay an amount of Rs.4,92,822/-, in respect of Service Connection No.1101- 8725, as preliminary assessed amount for committing theft of energy, the petitioner filed this writ petition. There is no necessity of going into all the details. When the matter came up for consideration on 11.09.2008, on the basis of the representation made to the effect that the petitioner has already deposited half of the amount demanded, interim stay of disconnection was granted on that day, which was subsequently ordered to be continued until further orders. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that as per clause 10.2.1 to 10.2.4 of the General Terms and Conditions of Supply approved by the A.P. Electricity Regulatory Commission, as soon as the provisional assessment is made, if the consumer desires for restoration of power supply, he should deposit atleast 50% of the demanded amount in addition to other charges, and in the case on hand, the petitioner has already deposited half of the amount demanded, but the respondents, instead of restoring power supply, are threatening the petitioner that if he does not pay the remaining half of the disputed amount, they will disconnect his service connection, which is arbitrary and illegal. Learned Standing counsel appearing for the respondent Company submits that as the impugned assessment order is passed under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003, let the petitioner pay the remaining half of the disputed amount, and thereafter, they will get the liability determined under Section 154 (5) of the Electricity Act by approaching the Special Court under the Electricity Act. In reply, the learned counsel for the petitioner agreed with the submission made by the learned Standing counsel, however sought that the petitioner may be granted two instalments to pay the remaining half of the demanded amount. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case and also the submissions made on either side, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with the following directions: “The petitioner is directed to pay the remaining half of the demanded amount in two equal monthly instalments within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, and thereafter, the respondents are directed to get the dispute resolved under Section 154 (5) of the Electricity Act, by referring the matter to the Special Court under the Electricity Act, within a period of three months from the date of payment of the last instalment by the petitioner.” With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. _____________ C.V.RAMULU,J 26.10.2010 v v