73 r 6 1 4F Reqular Second Appeal Noe 4380 of 2005 Reclular Second Appeal Noa 4381 of 20 Reclular Second Apoeal Noe 1799 of 2008 and Reqular Second Aooeal Noe 1800 of 2008 IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB 8 HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH eee Date of Decisionl Februarl 17 2011 1 1 1 Reqular Second Appeal Noe 4380 of 2005 0 0 I Punjab State Electricity Board and others Appeliants C5 I VERSUS Z Mlse Hemkunt Cold Storage Respondent 2 r Recular Second Aepeal Noa 4381 of 2005 I Punjab State Electricity Board and others Appellants Z eee 10 VERSUS Cr m Z Mlse Jaid Cold Storage Respondent Qm Reciular Second ApDeal Noe 1799 of 2008 Mlse Jaid Cold Storage Appellant VERSUS unjab State Electricity Board and another Respondents Reoular SecondAoDeal Noe1800Qf20080 4 r 6 n4 lp Parkash Om 2012.11.19 13: 59 True Scanned Copy Of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 15:59 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 74 C e2 94 4 Reclular Second Appeal Noe 4380 of 2005 Reqular Second Appeal No381 of 2005 Reqular Second Apoeal Noe 1799 of 2008 and Reqular Second Appeal Noe 1800 of 2008 Mlse Hemkunt CoId Storage Appellant VERSUS W Punjab State ElectricityBoard and another Respondents 0 C0 I 0 CORAM HONBLE MRJUSTICE MOHINDER PAL I le Whether Reporters of Local papers may be allowed to see Z the judgment 7 2e To be referred to the Reporters or not 7 3e Whether the judgment should be reportedin the Digest7 r I Presentl Mr Sukhbir Singh Advocate for the PunjabState ElectricltyBoard appellantin RegularSecond AppealsNosA380 and Z 4381 of 2005 and respondent in RegularSecond AppealNos 1799 and 1780 of 2008 m meo Mr S4 SinglaAdvocate Z for MlsaJaid CoId Storage appellant in ReguiarSecond AppealNo1799 of 2008 and respondentin RegularSecond AppealNoA381 of 2005 and for MlsHemkunt ColdStorageappellantin RegularSecond AppealNo1800 of 2008 and respondentin RegularSecond AppealNo380 of 2005 MOHINDER PALz Je This judgment will dispose of the afortated four appeals as the question involved therein is common ie whether Electric Connection NoSe22 and Electric Connection NoMS23 are to be treated as clubbedor not 1 Parkash Om 2012.11.19 13: 59 True Scanned Copy Of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 15:59 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 75 V L 3 e e V1J Reqular Second Apoeal Noe 4380 of 2005 Reaular Second Apoeal Noe 4381 of 2005 Reqular Second Aooeal Noe 1799 of 2008 and Recluiar Second Appeal Noe 1800 of 2008 PunjabState ElectricityBoard or short the Board which has filed RegularSecond Appeals NosA380 and 4381 of 2005 has claimed that both these electric connections have to be treated as clubbed connections whereas in RegularSecond Appeals r Nos 1799 and 1800 of 2008 filed by Mls Jaid CoId Storage and 0 0 MlsHemkunt Cold Storage respectively the ciaim made is that I C5 these two electric conneaions are separate Units RegularSecond Appeal NoA380 of 2005 has been filed Z by the Board against the judgment and decree passedby the Iower appellateCourt wherebythe judgment and decree passed r by the trial Court dismissingthe suit filed by MlsHemkunt Cold I Storage plaintiff thereir was set aside and the suit filed by Z Mls Hemkunt CoId Storage concerning the electrlcity chargesirl CO respectof Electric Connection NoSe22 was decreed 7 ReguIarSecond Appeal NoA381 of 2005 has been Oled Z by the Board against the judgment and decree passed by the Ll Iower appellateCourt wherebythe judgment and decree passed by the trial Court dismissingthe suit filed by Mlsaid Cold Storage plaintiff thereinl was set aside and the suit filed by MlsJaid Cold Storage concerning the electricity charges in respect of EIectric Connection NoMS23 was decreed RegularSecond Appeal No1799 2008 has been filed by Mls Jaid Cold Storage against the judgments and decrees passed by both the Courts below where the suit filed by MlsJaid Cold Storage concerning the electricity charges in respect of eP Parkash Om 2012.11.19 13: 59 True Scanned Copy Of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 15:59 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 76 C4 e4e m r Reqular Second Appeal Noe 4380 of 2005 Reqular Second Apoeal Noa 4381 of 2005 Reqular Second Appeal Noe 1799 of 2008 and Reqular Second Appeal No800 of 2008 Electric Connection NoS23 was dismissed RegularSecond Appeal No1800 of 2008 has been filed by Mls Hemkunt Cold Storage against the judgmentsand decrees j r passed by both the Courts below where the suit filed by MlsHemkunt Cold Storage concerning the charges Ill 0 0 respect of Electric Connection NoS22 was dismissed 1e C5 I have heard Mr Sukhbir Singh Advocate appearingfor I the PunjabState ElectricityBoard appellant Ill Regular Second Z AppealsNosA380 and 4381 of 2005 and respondentin Regular Second AppealNos1799 and 1780 of 2008 and Mr SK Singla Advocate appearing for Mls Jaid Cold Storage appellant in I RegularSecond AppealNo1799 of 2008 and respondentin Regular Z Second AppealNoA381 of 2005 and for Mls Hemkunt Cold OO Storage appellantin RegularSecond AppealNo1800 of 2008 and 7 respondentin RegularSecond Appeal NoA380 of 2005 and have Z gone throughthe records of the case At the outset it may be pointed out that the firms usuallyobtain more than one electric connection in the same premisesto avoid higher tariff In order to make the provision of clubbing the new connection in the same premises the Board had issued Commercial Circular Noe78195 vide Memorandum No918601926101SM268 dated 15901995 which for facilityof reference IS reproducedas belowl 11 Subjectl Runningof more than one 6 s ere e Parkash Om 2012.11.19 13: 59 True Scanned Copy Of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 15:59 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 77 4 5 lr 1 Reqular Second Apoeal Non 4380 of 2005 Retlular Second Aopeal Noe 4381 of 2005 Reciuiar Second Appeal Noe 1799 of 2008 and Reqular Second Appeal Noe 1800 of 2008 connection in the same premises SMI268 It has been observed and experienced that existing instructions contained Itl SMIm268 are not being 1 0 meticulousiyfollowed and new connecOons 0 0 in the same premisesare being given Such C5 violations of the instructions are being P I pointed out repeatedlyby Accounts Audit as Z well as Technical Audit Avoidance of higher voltageIevel supply has been pointed out r by the audit as a result of giving more I than one connection in the same premises Z Instances have also been noticed where Ioo more tha n one connection has been given Ill 7 the same premises to avoid highertariff AIso Z instructions issued Vide CC No2190 dated 12690 for avoiding circumvention of the instructions have not been very useful in curbing the tendency for a new connection in a premises carved out of the existing one or by purchasingan adjoining Iande In order to make the provision of clubbingand new connection in the same premises errororoof it has been decided as under Il A Parkash Om 2012.11.19 13: 59 True Scanned Copy Of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 15:59 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 78 r 9 6 1 1 Reqular Second Appeal Noe 4380 of 2005 Reqular Second ApPeal No1381 of 2005 Reqular Second Appeal Noa 1799 of 2008 and Reqular Second Aooeal Noe 1800 of 20080 il Where a ny person whether or not a member of the family partner director etc applies for a new connection in 1 the same premises this should be allowed 0 1 onlyif 0 i 0 ao there is physicalseparation I C9 and I b also where the premlses Z in question are Iegally transferred sold or Ieased to be the new unit and appropriate 0 entry exists In the munlclpalrecord regarding I such transfere This implies that there C3 Z should be a registered deed for Iease or 4t lD sale and formal agreement of famlly 7 partitionlIease etc should not be accepted ii XX XX XX Om The firms in question iee MlseJaid Cold Storage and Mls Hemkunt Cold Storage disputed the electricity bills sent by 1 the Board on the basis of LargeSupplyTariff after clubbingIoad of Eiectric Connection NoS23 installed In the name of MlsJaid Cold Storage and Electric Connection NoMSe22 installed in the name of Mls Hemkunt Cold Storagealleging that both these Orms have no connection with each other The Board had earlier sent notices to both these firms to get Eiectric Connection NoS22 and Electric I 4 Parkash Om 2012.11.19 13: 59 True Scanned Copy Of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 15:59 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 79 4e Reqular Second Aooeal Non 4380 of 2005 Reqular Second Apoeal Noe 4381 of 2005 Reqular Second Aooeal Noa 1799 of 2008 and Reqular Second Appeal Noe 1800 of 2008 ConnectionNoS23 clubbed but these firms did not get the connections clubbed despitethe clear instructiOns of the Board It may be mentioned here that joint inspection of Electric 1 Connection NoSm22 and Electric Connection NoS23 was done C by the Director Enforcement PunjabState Electricity Board Bathinda 0 0 and SuperintendingEngineer Operation CircIe Faridkot on I C5 281999 and the reportsubmitted by them reads as underl I Z tl Subjectle Joint inspectionAlc NoMSe 22 8 MS23 S LS3 by SElOpe Circle Farldkot and DirectorlEnf Bathinda on dated 28119990 3 Z There was a joint site inspection of CO subjectcited premlsesunder Patto Hira Slngh aw subedivne No separationwas found existing Z at site Hence the two connections be ll treated as clubbed and chargedon LS tariff accordinglyThe site sketch is preparedat site as per actualse Il If Electric Connection NoS22 and Electric Connection NoI1Se23 are treated as having been installed irl separate unitS Medium Supply Tariff IS chargeable and if these electric connections are treated as clubbed ones LargeSupplyTariff IS chargeable The report submitted by the Director Enforcement n08 Parkash Om 2012.11.19 13: 59 True Scanned Copy Of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 15:59 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 80 4 e 1 r 1 Reqular Second Appeal Noe 4380 of 2005 Reqular Second Appeal Noe 4381 of 2005 Reclular Second Apoeal Noe 1799 of 2008 and Reclular Second Appeal Noe 1800 of 2008 PunjabState Electricity Board Bathinda and Superintending Engineer Operation Circle Faridkot after having a joint inspection on 281999 of Electric Connection NoMS22 and 1r Electric Connection NoS23 reproducedabove appears to be a fair repott There was no rnalice on the part of highlyplaced 0 0 oftlcers of the Board towards Mls Hemkunt Cold Storage and I C5 Mls Jaid Cold Storagewhich could have prompted them to give a I false report against them This report of the higher omcers of Z the Board is an authentic one and an impeccablepieceof evidence belyingthe claim of Mls Hemkunt Cold Storageand Mls Jaid Cold Storage This report submitted by the Director I EnfOrcement Punjab State Electricity Board Bathinda and tO Z SuperintendingEngineer OperationCircle Faridkot after having m a joint inspection on 281999 of EIectricConnection NoeMS22 7 and Electric Connection NoS23 in fact IS the clinching factor Z However one cannot Iose sight of the fact that before releasing Electric Connection NoS22 and Electric Connection NoVlSe23 some oftlcials I officers of the Board must have inspected the premises of MlsHemkunt CoId Storage and MlSe Jaid Cold Storage and must have helped the partners of these firms to get the necessary formalities required f6r the release of electric connections completed by conniving with them partners of these firmsl The Board is directed to identifythose omcers of the Board who had connived with the active partnersof MlsHemkunt Cold Storage and MlsJaid Cold Storage to initiate Parkash Om 2012.11.19 13: 59 True Scanned Copy Of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 15:59 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 81 8e 7 Reqular Second Appeal Noe 4380 of 2005 Reqular Second Aoeal Noe 4381 of 2005 Reqular Second Appeal Non 1799 of 2008 and Reclular Second Aooeal Noa 1800 of 2008 disciplinaryproceedingsagainst them and to punish them in accordance with the reievant provisions of the service Iaws appllcableto the employeesof the Board 1 1 For the aforesaid reasons Regular Second Appeal NoA380 of 2005 and ReguiarSecond Appeal o 4381 of 2005 0 1 0 filed by the Board are aliowed and the impugned judgments I C5 and decrees passed by the Iower appeliateCourt are set aside and that of the trlal Court are restored RegularSecond Appeal Z No1799 of 2008 tlled by MlsJain CoId Storage and Regular 2 Second Appeal No 1800 of 2008 filed by Mls Hemkunt Cold Storageare hereby dismissed being without any merlt Decree sheets be prepared However there shall be no order as to costs t Z The Registry IS directed to place a copy of this judgment in f RegularSecond Appeal No 4381 of 2005 RegularSecond Appeal 7 No 1799 of 2008 and Regular Second Appeal No 1800 of 2008 Z eache 1 i C PALI February 1 1 2011 JUDGE 1 ak ir C9f 9 f49 n04 ee m3a Parkash Om 2012.11.19 13: 59 True Scanned Copy Of Original PHHC,Chandigarh JOYTI RANI 2016.03.28 15:59 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document