Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited v. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited And Another
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-816. In order to better understand the legislative intent, it would be necessary to refer to the provision as it stood in the Electricity Act, 1910, prior to the coming into force of the Electricity Act, 2003. The relevant provision contained under Section 12 (6) of the Electricity Act, 1910 is extracted as under:- "12. Provision as to the opening and breaking up of streets, railways and tramways.
xxx xxx xxx
(6) In this section, "occupier" of any building or land means a person in lawful occupation of that building or land.
17.
A comparative reading of both the provisions shows that there is a conscious departure by the Parliament and the word "lawful" specified in the Electricity Act, 1910, has been dropped by the Parliament in the Electricity Act of 2003. The deletion has to be viewed as a conscious act of the Parliament and not just an omission.
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? xxx xxx xxxx 24.
A perusal of the bare provision as contained in the Act as well as the precedent shows that the statute only talks of a person to be the "owner of the property" or 'an occupier of the premises' in question. The insertion of the word "lawful" is an offshoot of a phrase used by the respondent - PSPCL in the A and A form. Even though it would amount to a violence with the statute on the part of the respondent - PSPCL in incorporating the term not contained in the Statute itself and insisting upon a word to be part of statute which stands deleted, yet, the issue is being examined since the possession of the petitioner as a licensee is not a subject matter of dispute.
-2325. "Lawful" is again a term that has not been defined under the Electricity Act, 2003 or the regulations framed thereunder or by any other sale circular issued by the PSPCL. Consequently, 'lawful' has to be seen in the context of the meaning ordinarily understood or assigned in the ordinary understanding of the general Public. 26.
In Black's Law Dictionary, 10th Edition, "lawful" means not contrary to law; permitted or recognized by law.
27.
A licensee is recognised in a 'lawful possession' of the premises under Section 52 of the Indian Easements Act, 1882. The possession of a licensee is thus, 'lawful' under the statutory regime and such principles would always be attracted for understanding the inter se rights of the parties even though the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 may not be applicable to the territories of Punjab. The dispute regarding a valid revocation is yet to be adjudicated upon by the civil Court.
28.
The word "occupier" even otherwise is assumed in law to be an occupation which otherwise has some legal foundation. Law or Courts of law do not promote degeneration of rule of law and would not be seen promoting capitalization in favour of a wrong doer. The term "Occupier" used in the Electricity Act, 2003, does not intend to create a right in favour of a rank trespasser. The legislature would not intend to promote breach of law. Besides, every term used in a statute inherently implies it to be lawful. Hence, the interpretation of "occupier" would necessarily mean a possession where a person has been lawfully inducted in a premises. The continuity of subsequent possession by statutory protection or pending judicial adjudication would not be sufficient to hold the possession to be unlawful, under the Electricity Act, 2003 so as to deny release of electricity connection in favour of such occupier, provided though that the application otherwise satisfies to the prescribed regulations. Any stricter approach would confer
-24upon the landlord/owner, an unbridled power to deprive an occupant of the basic amenities that are now integral part of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, 1950. The interpretation assigned to a statutory provision should be done to promote the object of the Act instead of leaving much room for mischief by a disgruntled landlord/owner. The respondent No.3 has conceded that the petitioner is in possession, albeit as a licensee. The licence is claimed to have been revoked. The petitioner however, claims to be in possession in part performance of the agreement and thus, is entitled to retain possession. The said question raises a dispute of title and not a valid vesting of occupancy in favour of the petitioner. Even otherwise, the essentials of a license are:- (i) Two different persons (ii) There has to be a grant (iii) License is always useful (iv) License is granted to do something in or upon the grantee's property (v) License does not relate to the ownership but only creates a personal right or obligation.
xxx xxx xxx 30.
Learned counsel for respondent No.3 also made a reference to the provisions as enshrined in Clause 6.4.3 of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Electricity Supply Code & Related Matters) Regulations, 2014 (as amended), in short 'Supply Code, 2014' to contend as to what would constitute a proof of ownership/occupancy of the premises. Relevant extract thereof reads as under:- "(b) Proof of Ownership/Occupancy of Premises: The applicant shall submit proof of ownership/ occupation of the premises for which the connection is applied. Any of the following documents shall be
-25acceptable as proof of ownership or occupancy of premises:- (i) Copy of sale deed or lease deed or rent deed and in the case of agricultural connections a copy of khasra / girdawari / jamabandi / fard of the land;
(ii) Certificate from panchayat showing ownership of premises within phirni/lal lakir of village for DS/NRS connection;
(iii) Registered General Power of Attorney;
(iv) Municipal tax receipt or demand notice or any other related document;
(v) Letter of allotment with possession letter. Provided that where an applicant, who is lawful occupier of the premises, is a tenant or a leaseholder and is unable to produce the consent of the owner/land lord for obtaining a connection, a separate Indemnity Bond shall be executed in favour of the distribution licensee in the prescribed form.
(c) Submission of NOCs For release of new connection/additional load/demand an applicant shall submit No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the competent authority in case it is required as per any State/Central government law/notified policy or regulations framed under the Electricity Act, 2003 or specific order of any court issued from time to time restraining release of connections in any particular area/premises. The distribution licensee shall circulate the list of cases where NoC is required, as per applicable law/policy, with the approval of the Commission."
31.
The aforesaid proofs described in the Supply Code, 2014 are only illustrative and are not exhaustive. It is not upto the Department to contend that in the absence of any
-26of those illustrative documents, it shall not consider any other event or document of possession as a valid proof of possession."
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