The Telangana High Court on Monday delivered a significant ruling, rejecting GITAM University's urgent petition seeking the restoration of its electricity connection. The court made it clear that power could only be considered for reconnection if the institution pays 50% of its staggering outstanding arrears, which amount to approximately ₹118 crore, following the proper procedure.
Court's Stern Stance on Massive Dues
The bench of Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka heard the urgent interim petition filed by the university after its power supply was disconnected by the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) on December 20. Representing the university, the counsel argued that the disconnection was severely impacting the academic activities of around 8,000 students on campus.
However, the standing counsel for TGSPDCL, N Sridhar Reddy, countered this by stating that the utility had issued multiple notices to the university, granting a 15-day period to clear the dues, which the institution chose to challenge legally instead of complying.
Confusion Over Petitioner Identity and Adjournment
A curious element emerged during the proceedings regarding the involvement of VBC Ferro Alloys Company. The university's counsel strenuously argued that GITAM has no connection with this company, which is also a petitioner in a related matter before the high court, and that the massive dues were not attributable to the university.
The court, taking note of this contention and questioning the role of VBC Company as a petitioner, decided to adjourn the matter. The next hearing is now scheduled for December 24. The bench refrained from issuing any interim orders for immediate restoration at this stage.
Judicial Concern Over Disparate Treatment of Defaulters
In a notable observation, Justice Bheemapaka had previously expressed serious concern over the apparent disparity in the electricity department's actions. The judge pointed out that while the department was taking a lenient approach towards a large institution like GITAM University, it often moved with "lightning speed" to disconnect the power supply of small and poor defaulters for much smaller amounts.
This case highlights the ongoing tension between essential public utility services and major institutional consumers over unpaid bills, with the judiciary emphasizing the principle of equitable application of rules and the priority of clearing substantial government dues.
