Ranjana P. Desai, J. - (1.) IN this appeal filed under Section 111 of the Electricity Act, 2003 ("the Electricity Act"), the Applicants/Appellants -Western Electricity Supply Company of Odisha Limited ("WESCO"), North -eastern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha Ltd. ("NESCO") and Southern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha Ltd. ("SOUTHCO"), who are distribution licensees (also referred to as "DISCOMS") have challenged order dated 4/3/2015 passed in Case No. 55 of 2013 revoking the licences of the Appellants and order dated 4/3/2015 appointing an Administrator for the Appellants' Utilities. Respondent No. 1 is the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission ("OERC"), who has passed the impugned orders. Respondent No. 2 is the Grid Corporation of India Limited. Respondent No. 3 is the Odisha Power Transmission Company Ltd. Respondent No. 4 is the Commissioner -cum -Secretary to the Government, Department of Energy, Government of Odisha.
(2.) THE Appellants have filed the instant application for interim reliefs. The prayers made in the interim application are as under: "IA No. 91 of 2015 (a) Stay the operation of the impugned order both dated 4/3/2015 in Case No. 55 of 2013 revoking the licence of the Appellants and appointing the Administrator in continuation thereof; (b) Direct that the status quo ante obtaining immediately prior to the issuance of the impugned order be continued till the disposal of the present Appeal; (c) Direct the administrator and the Authorized Officers to immediately cease and desist from having in any way connected with the affairs and operation of the Appellant -DISCOMs." Gist of the facts of the case needs to be stated. Action for suspension of licence of the Appellants was initiated in 2005 being Case No. 32 of 2005 under Section 24 of the Electricity Act. Show Cause Notice was issued inter alia, on the following grounds: "a) Apparent refusal of REL to renew shareholders agreement, resulting abdication by majority shareholder of DISCOMS of their responsibilities in discharging their regulatory obligations; b) Failure to appoint Managers/MDs for the three DISCOMS, viz. WESCO, SOUTHCO and NORTHCO. c) Failure to resolve the issue of servicing Rs. 400 crore NTPC bonds. d) Failure to evolve a convincing plan for meeting the outstanding PFC/REC and IBRD loans and BST dues of GRIDCO. e) Failure to mobilize counterpart funding in respect of APDRP scheme. f) Non -infusion of capital. g) Failure to take up full -scale energy auditing. h) Failure to introduce spot billing in entire areas of DISCOMs i) Failure to recruit adequate manpower. j) Failure to comply with Commission's orders dated 25/10/2005, 03/10/2005 and 30/9/2005."
(3.) THE OERC appointed three special officers in each of the Appellants, providing them with powers to seek information, documents and details of operation and management of the Appellants, etc. The Appellants challenged the said order in this Tribunal vide Appeal Nos. 29, 30 and 31 of 2006. By order dated 13/12/2006, this Tribunal set aside the said order passed by the OERC. Being aggrieved by the said order, the OERC carried appeals to the Supreme Court being Civil Appeal No. 946 of 2007 and Civil Appeal No. 2309 of 2007.;