Bench rejects PRP Exports plea

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by PRP Exports, a leading granite company here, which challenged the notice issued by Madurai Electricity Distribution Circle directing them to pay penalty for excess energy consumed by his industrial unit.The court also observed that the TNEB officials in the lower level had attempted to favour the petitioner’s unit by manipulating the quota.P Suresh Kumar, partner of PRP Exports, contended that the unit never violated the quota fixed by the electricity board and that they consumed the energy that was only allowed under the demand quota. Hence the order seeking penalty should be set aside, he argued.Justice K K Sasidharan, before whom the matter came up, observed that the officials in the lower level had attempted to favour the petitioner’s industry by manipulating the quota.Stating that the electricity board was justified in directing the petitioner to pay the penalty for excess energy use, the Judge directed the petitioner to pay the entire arrears before approaching the electricity board for additional demand.