HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.4564 of 2007 Dated:06.03.2007 Between: Vegunta Purnachandra Rao and another. …Petitioner. and The Chief Managing Director and others. …Respondents HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.4564 of 2007 ORDER: The petitioners are farmers and are availing the benefit of free power supply. According to them, the respondents are now proposing to collect arrears of consumption charges by alleging that the petitioners are not eligible for being extended the free power supply. They claim to have made a representation, dated 28.02.2007, in this regard. The grievance of the petitioners is that the respondents are demanding huge amounts towards consumption charges, without issuing any bill, or notice, much less, proceedings. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Standing Counsel for the respondents. As a policy decision, the Government has decided to extend free power supply to farmers, subject to certain conditions. The petitioners state that they are eligible for such a benefit and are enjoying it. If the respondents are of the view that the petitioners have incurred any disqualification to be extended the said facility, they are under obligation to issue show cause notice, indicating the reasons for abrupt disconnection. But, the demand of any amount, unprecedented by any verification, under the facts and circumstances of the case, cannot be sustained. Even before the petitioners are issued any bill, they must be informed all the reasons for such a course. For the foregoing reasons, the Writ Petition is disposed of, directing that, in case, the respondents deny the benefit of free power supply to the petitioners, they shall issue notice indicating the reasons for such course of action, and till such time, the power supply to the petitioners shall not be disconnected. There shall be no order as to costs. ____________________ Dt.06.03.2007 L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J GJ