M.P. ELECTRICITY BOARD, JABALPUR AND ORS. v. HARSH WOOD PRODUCTS AND ANR.

The following Order of the Court was delivered :

Leave granted.

We have heard learned counsel on both sides. This appeal by special leave arises from the Judgment and order dated March 12, 1993 passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior Bench in M.P. No 1484/91. The admitted position is that on August 21, 1991, the appellants' staff inspected the electrical installation of the respondents connected by the appellant-Board. In the proceedings recorded after the said inspection, the facts noted are as und_er : 574

M.P. ELECT BD. v. HARSH WOOD PRDTS. 575

"During the course of inspection, Shri Dilip was present as the representative of M/s. Harsh Wood Products, Hanmore and found the following irregularities. Connection No. 1156 (2556) -

1Copy pinpoint1. No Seal found on Meter terminal cover.

2Copy pinpoint2. Body seals of the meter, hearing No. 490812 (Right side) and B 01443 (Left Side) found tematampered.

3Copy pinpoint3. The seals on Meter Box, bearing No. 38556/SE Morena, C- 10/MPEB Gwalior, found OK.

Connection No. 1158 (2824) c (1) No seal found with Meter terminal cover.

(2) Meter Body seals. bearing No. 49817 (Right Side) & 013361 (Left Side) found broken and Tampered. D (3) Seal on meter box bearing No. 33434/SE Morena C- 10/MPEB Gwalior found OK.

In both the above connection, the difference was noticed, in serial No. and the location of the seals provided on Meter Body. The serial No. and the location of the meter body seals, as found E in the inspection carried out on dated 16.3.91, are found different in the checking carried out on dated 22.8.91. The difference noticed in serial No. & location in checking is as hereunder :

16.3.91 Connection No. 2556 Connection No. 2824 Seal fixed Right Side 490817 013343 F Left Side 490812 013361 28.8.91 Right Side 490812 49817 Report as Left Side 013343 013361 Meler No. 0530489 545768 G This panchnama has been prepared in view of Meter Body seals found Tampered and Meter terminal seals found missing so as to interfere and control the energy consumption as per his own desire.

Maintaining "Status Quo" of the tampered and broken body H

p. 576

A seals of Meter of Both the above connection, New Seels are fixed on the meter box bearing No. M1919 MPEB/MT on Connection No. 2556 and No. M1920 MPEB/MT on connection No. 2824. The old seals provided on the meter box are in custody with the Executive Engineer (0 & M) Morena.

B Sid- 22.8.91 Sid- 22.8.91 Sd/- 22.8.91 EE (0 & M) S.E. (Testing) A.E. (DIW) Morena Gwalior Morena Sd/- 22.8.91 Sd/- 22.8.91 Sd/- 22.8.91 A.E. 132 KV A.E. (Testing) Dilip c Sis Hanmore Morena (Representtative of Consumer)". In the said proceedings, one Mr. Dilip had represented the respon- dent-industry and he was also the signatory to the proceedings. Thereafter, notice was issued to the respondents on August 26, 1991 informing that the meter body seals were tampered and damage with seal wire. The seals of the meter terminal block were found missing which would indicate that the function of the meter was disturbed to reduce the consumption of electrical oncrgy. Therefore, the respondent-Industry was directed to pay the dif- ference of the assessed amount said to be in a sum of Rs. 6,51,256.61 at the earliest. It was also pointed out that bill for the further past years was being examined and the decision would be taken and intimated in due course. In furtherance thereof, the respondent-Industry submitted the ex- planation to the show cause on August 29, 1991 wherein he requested that on humanitarian grounds, viz., "the supply of the installation will please be restored immediately and we give the undertaking that if any balance amvunt become due for payment on account of vigilance checking, the same will be denosited immediately on providing the bills for such amount". The reply was also given by Mr. Dilip who had participated during inspec- ti on.

Upon these facts, the question emerges : whether the High Court G '''ould be justified in interfering with the order directing ther.1 to pay the difference of the amount. The High Court in the impugned judgment has held that the respondent has a right of hearing before the authority subject it to payment of the amount which is alleged to be due towards the theft of electricity as required under Section 31( e) of the Indian Electricity Act,

H 1910. Since that opportunity was not given, it violated Articles 20(1) and

M.P. ELECT BD. v. HARSH WOOD PRDTS. 577

21 of the Constitution and, therefore, the order wa' void. Accordingly, it A directed the appellant-Board to restore within 24 hours the service con- nection No. 2556/1156 of the Industry. It is also stated with respect to the claim of the Board against electricity stolen that it would be open to the appellant to raise legal and appropriate demand in a legal and lawful manner. Accordingly, the demand was quashed. B - The question, therefme, is : whether the view of the High Court is sustainable in law. It would be seen that Section 49 read with Section 79 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 gives power to the appellant-Board to determine and also to revise tariff from time to time. Admittedly, in exercise of the power the tariff has been determined and the principles governing the supply of electricity have been enumerated. Clause 3l(e) is relevant in this behalf. It provides as under :

"(e) Where any consumer is detected in the commission of any malpractice with reference to his use of electrical energy including authorised alternations to installationsi unauthorised extension and use of devices to commit theft of electrical energy the Board may, without prejudice to its other rights, cause the comumer's supply to be forthwith disconnected. The supply may be restored in the discretion of the Division Engineer of the Board if the consumer forthwith compensates the Board and pays all dues as per bill and takes such other actions as he may be directed by the Divisional Engineer of the Board to take in this connection".

A reading thereof clearly indicates that the appellant-Board, when it detects that any consumer had committed any malpractice with reference to his use of electrical energy including authorised alternations to installa- tions, unauthorised e:x1:ension and us·e of de\,ices to commit theft of electri- cal energy, may, without prejudice to its o~·hcr rights; disconnect the supply of electricity forthwith and may call upon the consumer to make payment for compensation of the unauthorised use of electricity which is now stated to be a theft of electricity. It is not in dispute that an FIR had already been lodged for theft of electrical energy. It is seen that the proceedings have been drawn in the presence of the representative of the respondent- Industry and the meters were found to have been tampered with. In furtherance thereof, a prima facie conclusion of pilferage has been reached that the meters were tampered with and respondents \Vere.called upon to H

578 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1996] SUPF. 1 S.C.R.

A pay the difference of the rate for electricity said to have been consumed during the stated period of the detection. It would appear thal the said asse~s1nent was based upon the previous consumption. It is seen 1hat since the proceedings are pending, it would not be desirable to re:ord any finding in this behalf.

B The learned counsel for the respondenf placed strong re iance on Section 24 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 which contempla es seven days' notice before disconnection. Section 24 does not apply lo demand on detection of pilferage. It would apply to a case of regular supply nade and prior demand for payment of electricity charges with a notice of ;c ven days c to be made and for failure to pay within the given time, after 'xpiry of seven days, the appellant as a licensee would get the right to d:sconnect the supply of electrical energy. It would thus be seen that disccnnection will be in the course of regular supply of electricity for non-paym< nt of the usual bills but not to any case demand after detection of pilferag=.

D The only question is : whether the consumer if entitled le hearing before disconnection ? In view of the conditions to which the res; londents had agreed at the time of installation and also the prima facie cc nclusion reached by the authorities, it was not necessary to give further hearing to the respondents. The action taken by the appellant is not viclative of Articles 20(1), 14 of the Constitution and principles of natural ju ;tice. E The appeal is accordingly allowed. No costs.

G.'.'I. Appeal allowed.