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2011 (1) TMI 1248 - SC - Indian LawsWhether a benefit given by a statutory notification can be withdrawn by the Government by another statutory notification and whether the principles of promissory estoppel would be applicable in a case where concessions/rebates given by a statutory notification are subsequently withdrawn by another statutory notification? - Held that:- Appeal dismissed.The petitioners cannot raise plea of estoppel against the notification dated August 7, 2000 reducing Hill Development Rebate to 0% as there can be no estoppel against the statute. Whether the term stipulated in the contract entered into between the petitioners and the U.P. State Electricity Board (now the Corporation) stipulating that the respondent No.2 would give 33.33% rebate to the petitioners, is legally enforceable and whether in view of the said term the respondent No.2 precluded from changing the tariff rates? - Held that:- This Court does not find any prohibition in the agreement by which the respondent No.2 was bound to give 33.33% rebate to the petitioners in all the circumstances or was precluded from changing the tariff rates. The petitioners being parties to the agreement now cannot turn around and argue that the respondent No. 2 is bound to give 33.33% Hill Development Rebate and can never change the tariff rates to the detriment of the petitioners. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case, therefore, this Court holds that the respondent No. 2 is not bound to give 33.33% Hill Development Rebate to the petitioners for the period specified in the notification irrespective of change in the tariff rates. Whether the Court of law would be justified in interfering with the policy decision of the Government either to grant or not to grant rebate to certain industrial units? - Held that:- What is relevant to notice is that if the power to reduce the rebate to 17% is assumed to be available, then power to reduce the rebate to 0%, as is done by the notification dated August 7, 2000, is also available. The petitioners have not challenged previous judgment of the High Court wherein this Court has held that the rebate would not be available/cannot be given after coming into force of the U.P. Electricity Reforms Act, 1999. The petitioners have also not challenged the tariff rates made applicable from September 16, 2001 to March 31, 2002 vide order dated September 1, 2000 by the U.P. Electricity Regulatory Commission, wherein no rebate based on geographical area has been provided. The discussion made above makes it very clear that the petitioners have not been differently treated nor the tariff is sought to be recovered in any illegal or arbitrary manner. Under the circumstances, this Court does not find breach of the salutary provisions of Article 14 of the Constitution. As no right guaranteed to the petitioners under Article 14 of the Constitution is found to have been breached, the present petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution cannot be entertained and the petitioners are not entitled to the reliefs claimed in the instant petition. Therefore, the petitioners are precluded from challenging notification dated August 7, 2000 withdrawing the rebate in electricity rates.
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