IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN WEDNESDAY, THE 25TH NOVEMBER 2009 / 4TH AGRAHAYANA 1931 WP(C).No. 26125 of 2007(I) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED, REPRESENTED BY DIVISIONAL ENGINEER, VENJARAMOODU, TRIVANDRUM. BY ADV. MR.MATHEWS K.PHILIP,SC, BSNL RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, REPRESENTED BY IT'S SECRETARY, VYDHYUTHI BHAVAN, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. ASSISTANT ENGINEER, ELECTRICAL SECTION (KSEB), KANNIAKULANGARA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. ASSISTANT ENGINEER, ANTI POWER THEFT SQUAD, K.S.E.BOARD,TRIVANDRUM. BY ADV. MR. P.P.THAJUDEEN, SC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 25/11/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C).No. 26125 of 2007(I) APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1 - TRUE COPY OF THE MAHAZAR PREPARED BY THE RESPONDENTS DT. 23.7.2007 EXT.P2 - TRUE COPY OF THE SHORT ASSESSMENT BILL ISSUED TO THE PETITIONER DTD. 27.7.2007. EXT.P3 - TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION/OBJECTION FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE RESPONDENTS DTD. 14.8.2007. EXT.P4 - TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER PASSED BY THE SECOND RESPONDENT IN EXT.P3 DTD. 21.8.2007. // TRUE COPY // PA TO JUDGE rhs S. SIRI JAGAN, J ............................................... W.P(C) No. 26125 of 2007 ................................................. Dated this the 25th day of November, 2009 J U D G M E N T In this writ petition, the BSNL which is a central government owned entity raises certain disputes regarding demand for electricity charges by the Kerala State Electricity Board which is an entity owned by the Government of Kerala. In view of the several Supreme Court decisions on the subject, it is settled law that Government entities should not drag their disputes to courts of law and they should be resolved by reference to a high power committee constituted for that purpose by the Government. In fact pursuant to directions of a Division Bench of this court, similar other disputes between the same parties have been so referred to a high power committee. I am of opinion that this dispute also can be referred to that committee. Accordingly this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to see that this dispute is also referred to the high power committee already constituted pursuant to orders of the Division Bench. The committee shall pass orders on the dispute, as expeditiously as possible, at any W.P(C) No. 26125 of 2007 -2- rate, within four months form the date when the dispute is referred to them. Till then the interim order passed by this court shall continue to be in force. The writ petition is disposed of above. sd/- S. SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE rhs // True copy // PA to Judge