TUPPADAHALLI ENERGY INDIA PVT LTD v. KARNATAKA ELEC. REG. COMM.

Supreme Court of India · 10 Jan 2017
KURIAN JOSEPH; A. M. KHANWILKAR
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 8736 OF 2013
administrative appeal_dismissed

AI Summary

The Supreme Court upheld the interpretation of Clause 6.5 of the Power Purchase Agreement as a rebate for prompt payment, dismissing the appellant's challenge and refusing to interfere with the regulatory authorities' view.

Full Text
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Page 1
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 8736 OF 2013
TUPPADAHALLI ENERGY INDIA PVT LTD Appellant(s)
VERSUS
KARNATAKA ELEC. REG. COMM. & ANR Respondent(s)
WITH
CIVIL APPEAL NOs. 10290-10291 OF 2014
JUDGMENT
KURIAN, J.

1. On the interpretation of Clause 6.[5] of the Power Purchase Agreement, both the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) and the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) have taken a view that it is actually an incentive for the prompt payment of the monthly tariff invoice. Though Sh.S.Ganesh, learned senior counsel, persuasively submitted that it is only a one-time expenditure contemplated under the Power Purchase Agreement, we too are unable to accept the contention.

2. No doubt, there is a provision under Clause 6.[2] for interest on belated payment, but Clause 6.5(v) is actually a rebate for prompt payment of the monthly invoice. The view thus taken by the KERC and the Page 2 APTEL, being a plausible view, we do not find any substantial question of law so as to warrant us to exercise our powers under Section 125 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

3. The appeals are, accordingly, dismissed. No costs ........................ J. [ KURIAN JOSEPH ] ....................... J. [ A. M. KHANWILKAR ] New Delhi; January 10, 2017.