LPA 467/2026 $~55 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + LPA 467/2026 & CM APPL. 41006/2026 HOTEL HANS PVT LTD .....Appellant Through: Mr. Amit Gupta, Mr. Anshul Luthra, Mr. Kshitiz Vaibhav, Ms. Muskan Nagpal & Ms. Saumya M. Tripathi, Advocates. versus NEW DELHI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL .....Respondent Through: Mr. Aditya Bharat Manubarwala, Additional Standing Counsel with Ms. Tanishka Grover, Advocate. CORAM: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA O R D E R % 06.07.2026 CM APPL. 41008/2026 (Exemption) 1. Exemption is allowed, subject to all just exceptions. 2. The Application stands disposed of. CM APPL. 41007/2026 (Condonation of Delay) 3. Having regard to the averments made in the Application seeking condonation of delay, the prayer made therein is allowed and the delay of fifteen days in filing the accompanying Appeal is, hereby, condoned. 4. The Application stands disposed of. LPA 467/2026 5. This intra Court Appeal has been preferred by the Appellant / Petitioner against an order dated 16.04.2026 (“Impugned Order”) passed This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 08/07/2026 at 11:58:01 LPA 467/2026 by the learned Single Judge whereby the writ petition instituted by the Appellant has been dismissed with the liberty to pursue appropriate remedies. 6. The learned Single Judge while passing the Impugned Order has made an observation that the Appellant’s grievances can be redressed either by approaching the Electricity Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (“ECGRF”) or filing a civil suit before the Court of competent civil jurisdiction, as the Appellant has raised disputed questions of fact. 7. The learned Counsel for the Appellant has though attempted to impress upon this Court that relegating the Appellant to the alternative remedy of either instituting a civil suit or approaching the ECGRF in the facts of the present case is not appropriate, however, we are not convinced with the said submissions. 8. The ECGRF is a statutory body which has been created under sub- Section 5 of Section 42 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (“Act”) for the purposes of redressal of grievances of the consumers. 9. The said Forum has been established in the State of Delhi in terms of the provisions contained in Section 42(5) of the Act read with the regulations framed by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission which are known as ‘Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (Guidelines for establishment of the Forum and the Ombudsman for redressal of grievances of Electricity Consumers) Regulations, 2024 (“Regulations 2024”). 10. We also note that any consumer, who is aggrieved by any order passed by the ECGRF created under Sub-section 5 of Section 42 of the Act to approach ombudsman, which again is a statutory ombudsman for redressal of the grievances. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 08/07/2026 at 11:58:01 LPA 467/2026 11. It is also to be noted that Regulation 33 of the Regulations 2024 clearly prescribes power to pass an interim order as well, which is available with the ECGRF. 12. In view of the adequate statutory mechanism already in place, we do not find any good ground to interfere with the Impugned Order passed by the learned Single Judge. 13. However, we may make it clear that any observation made by us in this Order or even by the learned Single Judge in the Impugned Order dated 16.04.2026 shall not be construed to be our opinion on merits of the claim of the respective Parties. 14. We further provide that in case the Appellant approaches the ECGRF under the relevant provisions of the Act read with the Regulations, 2024, the grievances raised shall be considered and attended to by the Forum and an appropriate order, which may be warranted under law including consideration of prayer for interim relief, shall be made by the Forum with an expedition. 15. Accordingly, the Appeal is dismissed. Pending Applications also stand disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ TEJAS KARIA, J JULY 6, 2026/ ‘A’ This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 08/07/2026 at 11:58:01