Subhash Sitaram Deshmukh And ORS v. The State Of Maharashtra Thr. Secretary Of Energy And ORS

2026:BHC-AS:14719-DB

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 8193 OF 2025 Subhash Sitaram Deshmukh and Ors.

.. Petitioners

Versus

The State of Maharashtra and Ors.

.. Respondents Adv. Narayan G. Rokade, with Adv. Swapnil S. Kalokhe, Adv. Mrunmai Rokade, Adv. Sidharth Ghodke, Adv. Ramchandra Wagh and Adv. Tribhuvan Sharma, for the Petitioners. Adv. Soham Bhalerao, with Adv. Harshit Tyagi, i/b DSK Legal, for Respondent Nos. 2 & 4.

Adv. Ratnakar Singh, for Respondent No.3.

CORAM: B. P. COLABAWALLA & FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, JJ.

DATE:

P. C.

1.

The above Writ Petition has been filed seeking directions to the Respondents to issue electricity bills to the Advocates' offices under the residential category and for that purpose issue necessary orders.

2.

As recorded by us in Writ Petition No. 4629 of 2025, MERC has already granted a separate category for Advocates, namely, Public Services Consumer Category vide its order dated 28th March 2025. 3.

Once this is the case, we dispose of this Writ Petition by directing the Petitioners to make applications to the MSEDCL for change of their category as per the MERC order dated 28th March 2025. These applications shall be made by the Petitioners within a period of 2 weeks from today. 4.

On receiving such applications, the MSEDCL shall decide the applications within a period of 3 weeks thereafter, and if found in order, accordingly change the category of the Petitioners from the Commercial Category to the Public Services Consumer Category. 5.

Since the order of the MERC is dated 28th March 2025 and the Public Services Consumer Category is effective from 1st April 2025, any bills raised on the Petitioners after 1st April 2025, and which have been charged as per the rates of the Commercial Category, in subsequent bills, credit shall be given by the MSEDCL to the Petitioners on the difference in the rates between the Commercial Category and the Public Services Consumer

Category. As mentioned earlier, this will only apply to the bills that have been generated after 1st April 2025.

6.

With the above directions, the Writ Petition is disposed of. 7.

This order will be digitally signed by the Private Secretary/ Personal Assistant of this Court. All concerned will act on production by fax [FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, J.] [B. P. COLABAWALLA, J.] Signed by: Darshan Patil Designation: PA To Honourable Judge Date: 27/03/2026 12:58:39