High Court notice to MERC, MSEDC on Osho Foundation's plea

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court today issued notice to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDC) seeking their response to a petition filed by Osho International Foundation challenging electricity bills issued to them on commercial tariff rates.

Osho Foundation approached the High Court challenging the electricity bills issued to it for the months of August, September and October last year on commercial tariff.

According to the foundation, it falls under the special category of charitable trusts and hence will pay bills as per the subsidised tariff.

"In October 2011, MERC passed an order classifying charitable trusts running educational institutions and hospitals in a special category for which tariff rates are well below the commercial category rates," the petition states.

According to the petition, Osho foundation last year received electricity bills for August, September and October as per the commercial tariff.

Stating that Osho Foundation falls under the category of public services the petition states, "The petitioner (Osho) is established to impart education in yoga and meditation. It does not run any commercial activity and operates on a no-profit no-loss basis."

Osho Foundation has sought the High Court to quash and set aside the impugned bills and direct the MERC and MSEDC to include it in the public services category.