The Madras High Court today adjourned to January 12 a PIL filed by CPI-M challenging the recent revision of electricity tariff by the state electricity regulatory commission.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice S K Kaul and Justice M M Sundresh, adjourned the PIL filed by CPI-M state Secretary G Ramakrishnan to Monday.
The PIL contended that the revision of tariff order dated December 11, 2014 by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission was illegal, arbitrary, opposed to public interest and contrary to the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003.
According to him, The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), has not filed any application for determination of tariff nor have they given the particulars required to be given in 102 forms.
Therefore the impugned order is illegal and without jurisdiction, the petitioner said. He alleged that none of the objections raised by the petitioner party objecting to the hike was considered by the commission and the Regulatory Commission mechanically accepted whatever the TANGEDCO said.
He said the regulatory Commission being a regulatory body is duty bound to go into the fairness of the rates under the Electricity Act.
The act is guided by safeguarding consumer’s interest and at the same time, recovery of the cost of electricity in a reasonable manner, he submitted.
Under Section 86 (b) of the Act, the State Commission has the power to regulate purchase and procurement process of distribution licenses including the price at which electricity is procured, he said and prayed to declare the order of enhancing power tariff as illegal and arbitrary.