P.C.JAIN, J. - (1.) IN these writ petitions, the petitioners who are manufacturers in engineering goods, have challenged the Notification No. GSR 38 dated 28th May, 1974, by which new tariffs for the supply of electricity were introduced by respondent No. 2. The challenge of the petitioners is confined to minimum charge in respect of engineering industries.
(2.) THE facts of the case lie within a very narrow compass and may be stated thus. The Rajasthan State Electricity Board (here in after referred to as the Board), which is a corporation constituted by the State of Rajasthan under Section 5 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, is supplying electricity to the petitioner's factories situated in Jaipur at High tension voltage of 11 KV. The facts of the cases are more or less similar, we, therefore, refer the facts of the case of M/s Ashok Foundry and Metal Works (P) Ltd., Jaipur v. The State of Rajasthan D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 210/1975. When the petitioner M/s. Ashok Foundry and Metal Works (P) Ltd., commenced its work in 1971, the petitioner company was governed by the tariff under Notification No. PS/ CH/F. 219/D. 1315 dated 18th March, 1964 and Schedule 8 Large Industrial Loads (Schedule HS/LP/HT -1). The two part tariff was applicable. Under the said tariff different rates were prescribed for different types of service. The tariffs prescribed in 1964 were revised by the respondent Board by Notification dated 28th May, 1974 and the new tariff came into force from the billing month of July 1974 or the consumption month of June, 1974. In the new tariff, the two part tariff was done away with and the charges were fixed on the total consumption of energy at the following rates: Rate of charges: (1) First 5 lacs KWH at rate of 18 Paise KWH; (2) Next 10 lacs KWH at rate of 16 paise per KWH; (3) Over and above 15 lacs KWH at rate of 14 paise per KWH.
(3.) MONTHLY minimum charges had also been fixed at 150 Units per KVA per month of the contract demand.;