Chennai:Ā The Rs 17-crore fine imposed by power utility TANGEDCO on a factory in Erode district for theft of energy has been upheld by the Madras High Court.
The order was passed by a division bench comprising Justice M Venugopal and Justice S Vaidyanathan after the benchĀ dismissed an appeal by the company.
The Court stated that consumers getting electricity were governed by the terms and conditions of such supply and it was their bounden duty to ensure prevention of theft of energy or loss.
TANGEDCOĀ hadĀ penalised only an unauthorised user of electricity and so it’s action was not violative said the bench thus rejecting the appeal.
The bench said a glance of the TN Electricity Supply (Amendment) Code, 2007 reveals it has been amended with the sole objective of removing difficulties and misconceptions. Therefore, at no stretch of imagination, it can be said the amendment lacked legislative competence as was stated by the appellant.