The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEl) on Tuesday dismissed the plea of Reliance Infrastructure to impose stay against the order of Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) to revoke power distribution licences of its companies.
Reliance Infra had moved APTEl last month against the decision of the State regulator to revoke its licences citing under performance. In its order, the Tribunal said, “In view of the above, it is not possible for us to grant any mandatory interim relief to the Appellants and restore status-quo ante. The interim application is therefore, dismissed.”
The Tribunal also said, “We make it clear, however, that we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case. Nothing said by us in this order should be treated as our expression of final opinion on the merits of either the Appellants’ case or the Respondents’ case.”
Notably, the OERC on its March 4 order, licences of North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha ltd (Nesco), Western Electricity Supply Company of Odisha ltd (Wesco) and Southern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha ltd (Southco) were revoked under section 19 (revocation of licence based in public interest) of the Electricity Act with immediate effect. The Central Services Office (CSO), umbrella organisation of Reliance Infra for power distribution operation in the State, was also disbanded.