Kerala High Court Orders Release Of Electricity Charges To Private College Requisitioned As COVID Treatment Centre

The Kerala High Court recently directed the District Collector, Pathanamthitta to disburse electricity charges to a private college which was used as a Covid First Line Treatment Centre from May 21 to December 20 in 2020.

Justice V.G. Arun passed the order directing the officer, who is also Chairperson of Disaster Management Authority, to disburse the amount within an outer limit of two months.

"Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the buildings were requisitioned during the period from April, 2021 to May, 2021 also. Hence, claiming electricity charges for that period, the petitioner has submitted Ext. P14 representation. The 4th respondent is hence directed to take a decision on Ext. P14 within two months," said the court.

Mount Zion College of Engineering in a petition had said its college and hostel buildings were requisitioned during the first year of pandemic and now it has been issued a bill demanding arrears of electricity consumption charges for the period between March 2020 and February 2021.

It is averred by the petitioner counsel Advocate Jestin Mathew that a Bill demanding arrears of electricity consumption charges was issued by the Special Officer (Revenue) of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) on 16th February 2021.

The court was told that the district authorities were asked to pay the bill amount but they did not accede to the request.

Chairperson, Disaster Management Authority in response submitted that the electricity charges for the petitioner's College and hostel building for the period 21.05.2020 to 20.12.2020 will be paid by the respondent without delay, after calculating the electricity charges in accordance with Guidelines of KSEB Limited.

The court said, "In view of the above assurance, the writ petition is disposed of directing the 4th respondent to disburse the amount due to the petitioner within an outer limit of two months." 

The respondents in the instant case were represented by the Government Pleader Riyal Devassy, Standing Counsel for KSEB Harishankar, and Advocates R. Harishankar, Nidhi Balachandran, and Standing Counsel for the Secretary, Pathanamthitta Municipality V.K. Sunil. 

Case Title: Mount Zion College of Engineering v. State of Kerala & Ors. 

Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Ker) 569

Click Here To Read/Download The Judgment