Judicial Review of CERC Orders

The Supreme Court has ruled that High Courts should not interfere with orders from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) when a dedicated appeals body, the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL), is available. The case involved CERC allowing PGCIL to seek compensation from MPPTCL for project delays. Instead of appealing to APTEL, MPPTCL went to the High Court. The Supreme Court overturned the High Court's decision to hear the case, clarifying that CERC has the authority to issue such orders to fill regulatory gaps, and any challenge must first go through the proper statutory channel of appeal.