Supreme Court bars UPPCL from recovering a 15% electricity surcharge after publicly granting exemption.
The Supreme Court held that the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) cannot recover a 15% electricity surcharge from consumers after issuing a specific exemption order. The principle of promissory estoppel was invoked to prevent UPPCL from resiling from its public commitment.
The Court emphasized that when a statutory body makes a public announcement affecting financial obligations, citizens are entitled to rely on it. Retrospective recovery without legislative backing or notice violates Article 14 and principles of fair governance.
This decision strengthens consumer protection in public utility services and reinforces that state-owned entities are bound by their official notifications, even if later deemed fiscally inconvenient.