Supreme Court - Daily Orders
Wildlife First vs Ministry Of Forest And Environment ... on 18 February, 2026
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO.2625/2023
IN
WRIT PETITION (CRL.) NO.1061/1982
BANWASI SEVA ASHRAM PETITIONER(S)
VERSUS
THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF U.P. AND ORS. RESPONDENT(S)
O R D E R
1. This Miscellaneous Application has been moved by the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (in short, ‘NTPCL’) seeking directions for permitting the transfer of power distribution responsibilities and license to the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (in short, ‘UPPCL’).
2. Vide a reported judgement dated 19.02.1992, in exercise of its epistolary jurisdiction, this Court had directed NTPCL to ensure that various facilities are available to the tribal persons, who had to be rehabilitated on account of the establishment of the Rihand Super-Thermal Power Project.
NTPCL was thus given the responsibility of providing, inter alia, electricity connections in such rehabilitative area.
3. In the course of compliance with the said direction, NTPCL had obtained an ‘LT Power Distribution License’ from the Ministry of Power, State of UP and set up the infrastructure for distribution of power. The license Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by currently operational with NTPCL is for a period of 25 ARJUN BISHT Date: 2026.02.24 17:35:09 IST Reason: years, operative from 05.06.2011.
14. Now, NTPCL has filed the instant application, effectively seeking permission to transfer this responsibility of ensuring electricity connections in the rehabilitative area to UPPCL, which has since become an active distributor of energy in the rehabilitation area.
5. Shri Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor General of India, representing NTPCL and Shri Aviral Saxena, learned counsel, representing UPPCL, have jointly submitted that an arrangement for transfer of the license held by NTPCL has been arrived at between the parties, and that the power distribution shall henceforth be undertaken in terms thereof. As per Shri Saxena, among the various conditions of transfer, NTPCL would also be required to pay/deposit a sum of Rs. 3,37,72,993 in favour of UPPCL.
6. Having heard learned counsel and considering the benefits of distribution being managed by a dedicated entity, we find it appropriate to modify the directions contained in judgement dated 19.02.1992, specifically in paragraph 6(1), to the extent that NTPCL is permitted to transfer its license for the distribution of electricity in the rehabilitation area in favour of UPPCL. It is clarified that the transfer shall be strictly in terms of Section 17 of the Electricity Act, 2003, for which purpose, the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (in short, ‘Commission’) shall do the needful within four weeks.
7. The Commission shall notify the terms and conditions of the transfer, including the amount, if any, payable by NTPCL 2 to UPPCL for the same.
8. In view of the above, the instant Miscellaneous Application is disposed of.
..........................CJI. (SURYA KANT) ............................J. (JOYMALYA BAGCHI) ............................J. (VIPUL M. PANCHOLI) NEW DELHI;
FEBRUARY 18, 2026 3 ITEM NO.102 COURT NO.1 SECTION PIL-W S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s).109/2008 WILDLIFE FIRST & ORS. Petitioner(s) VERSUS MINISTRY OF FOREST AND ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY & ORS. Respondent(s) IA No. 124258/2020 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION, IA No. 124248/2020
- APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION, IA No. 98022/2019 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS, IA No. 39460/2019 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS, IA No. 73062/2020 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS, IA No. 130315/2019 – CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION, IA No. 130305/2019 – CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION, IA No. 196572/2022 – CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION, IA No. 33515/2020 – CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION, IA No. 88926/2018 - CONDONATION OF DELAY IN FILING, IA No. 173297/2025 - EARLY HEARING APPLICATION, IA No.207855/2024 - EARLY HEARING APPLICATION, IA No. 1/2008 - EX- PARTE STAY, IA No. 106395/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No.180995/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 137518/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 104857/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 180258/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 104610/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 151826/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 73063/2020 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 6/2014 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No.102926/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 109747/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 3/2012 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 101658/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No.107305/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 169256/2022 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 99575/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 139267/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 125761/2021 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T., IA No. 137888/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE, IA No. 99574/2019 - EXTENSION OF TIME, IA No. 111106/2019 - EXTENSION OF TIME, IA No. 75108/2018
- I A FOR WAIVING OF COST, IA No. 75127/2018 - I A FOR WAIVING OF COST, IA No. 180313/2019 - INTERVENTION APPLICATION, IA No. 104135/2019 - INTERVENTION APPLICATION, IA No. 151825/2019 - INTERVENTION APPLICATION, IA No. 144476/2019 - INTERVENTION APPLICATION, IA No. 33511/2020 - INTERVENTION APPLICATION, IA No.73061/2020 – INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT, IA No. 141003/2019 – INTERVENTION/IMPLEADMENT, IA No. 37944/2019 – MODIFICATION, IA No.35782/2019 – MODIFICATION, IA No. 36432/2019 - MODIFICATION OF COURT ORDER, IA No. 63893/2019 - PERMISSION TO APPEAR AND ARGUE IN PERSON, IA No. 106306/2019 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES, IA No. 123418/2020 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES, IA No. 107304/2019 - PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES, IA No.63894/2019 - STAY APPLICATION 4 WITH W.P.(C) No. 514/2006 (PIL-W) W.P.(C) No. 50/2008 (PIL-W) IA No. 129964/2019 - ADDITION / DELETION / MODIFICATION PARTIES IA No. 112065/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 103529/2019 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 68563/2018 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 53871/2018 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 3/2016 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 2/2009 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 61560/2018 - I/A FOR WAIVER OF COSTS FILED BY THE STATE OF KERALA T.C.(C) No. 85/2011 (III) T.C.(C) No. 87/2011 (III) T.C.(C) No. 39/2015 (XIV-A) FOR ON IA 1/2015, FOR ON IA 3/2016 T.C.(C) No. 132/2015 (XII-B) T.C.(C) No. 3/2016 (XI-A) MA No.1747/2018 in W.P.(Crl.) No. 1061/1982 (X) IA No. 155589/2019 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION IA No. 72136/2019 - APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION IA No. 93287/2018 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS IA No. 170798/2022 - CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION IA No. 170785/2022 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 93288/2018 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 170784/2022 - INTERVENTION APPLICATION T.C.(C) No. 12/2018 (III) Diary No(s). 19527/2019 (X) IA No. 84429/2019 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS S.L.P.(C)...CC No. 11408-11409/2009 (XII) T.C.(C) No. 41/2015 (XII-A) T.C.(C) No. 59/2015 (XII-B) T.C.(C) No. 103/2015 (III) Diary No(s). 38022/2024 (PIL-W) IA No. 187513/2024 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. MA No.2625/2023 in W.P.(Crl.) No. 1061/1982 (X) IA No. 224609/2023 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. 5 IA No. 224605/2023 - MODIFICATION OF COURT ORDER Date : 18-02-2026 These matters were called on for hearing today.
CORAM : HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JOYMALYA BAGCHI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIPUL M. PANCHOLI For Petitioner(s) :Mr. Balaji Srinivasan, AOR Mr. Ravindra S. Garia, AOR Mr. Shibashish Misra, AOR Ms. Madhusmita Bora, AOR Mr. Riju Raj Singh Jamwal, Adv. Mr. Dipankar Singh, Adv.
Ms. Pavithra V., Adv.
Mr. Varinder Kumar Sharma, AOR Mr. Shreekant Neelappa Terdal, AOR Mrs. Revathy Raghavan, AOR Mr. D. Mahesh Babu, AOR Mr. P. K. Manohar, AOR Mr. Shyam Divan, Sr. Adv.
Mr. Mahendra Vyas, Adv.
Mrs. Shibani Ghosh, Adv.
Mr. Sudipto Sarkar, Adv.
Ms. Nina Nariman, Adv.
Ms. Pyoli, AOR Mr. D. S. Mahra, AOR Mrs. Rachna Gupta, AOR Ms. Purnima Bhat, AOR For Respondent(s) :Mrs. Aishwarya Bhati, A.S.G. Ms Chitrangda Rashtravara, Adv. Ms. Shivika Mehra, Adv.
Mr. Digvijay Dam, Adv.
Mr. Saurabh Mishra, Adv.
Mr. Anmol Chandan, Adv.
Ms. Swati Ghildiyal, Adv.
Mr. Amit Sharma-v, Adv.
Mr. Yogesh Vats, Adv.
Dr. N. Visakamurthy, AOR Mr. Tushar Mehta, SG Mr. Digvijay Dam, Adv.
Mr. Kaustubh Anshuraj, AOR 6 Mr. Radha Shyam Jena, AOR Mr. S. Ravi Shankar, AOR Mr. Naresh Kumar, AOR Mr. Shuvodeep Roy, AOR Mr. Deepayan Dutta, Adv.
Mr. Saurabh Tripathi, Adv.
Mr. M. Yogesh Kanna, AOR Mr. Parijat Sinha, AOR Mr. D. S. Mahra, AOR Mr. Vinod Sharma, AOR Mr. Anil Shrivastav, AOR Mr. V. N. Raghupathy, AOR Mr. Santosh Krishnan, AOR Mr. Amrish Kumar, AOR Mr. Aviral Saxena, AOR Mr. Paritosh Goyal, Adv.
Mr. Abhinav Sharma, Adv.
Mr. Azmat Hayat Amanullah, AOR Ms. Rebecca Mishra, Adv.
Mr. Debojit Borkakati, AOR Mr. C. K. Rai, AOR Mrs. Anuradha Roy, Adv.
Mr. Vinay Kumar Gupta, Adv. Mr. Shiva Singh, Adv.
Ms. Anjana Chandrashekar, AOR Mrs. Prerna Dhall, Adv.
Ms. Rajanadani Kumari, Adv. Ms. Rajnandani Kumari, Adv. Mr. Kapil Katare, Adv.
Mr. Saksham Gohoi, Adv.
Mr. Saksham Gohii, Adv.
Mr. Vishwas Sharma, Adv.
Mr. Prashant Singh, AOR Mr. Rajat Joseph, AOR Mr. Saravjeet Singh, Adv.
Mr. Sanjay Sharma, Adv.
Mr. Lalit Belwal, Adv.
Mr. Ashish Belwal, Adv.
Mr. Bogisam Sriniwasa Kumar, Adv. Ms. Yashica Rawal, Adv.
Ms. Devika Khanna, Adv.
Mr. Vmz Chambers, AOR 7 Mr. Shishir Deshpande, AOR Ms. Hemantika Wahi, AOR Mr. D. L. Chidananda, AOR Mr. Sanjay Kumar Visen, AOR Ms. Deepanwita Priyanka, AOR Mr. S. Biswal, Adv.
Ms. Pritha Srikumar Iyer, AOR Ms. Swati Ghildiyal, AOR Ms. Aditi Agarwal, Adv.
Mr. Samir Ali Khan, AOR Mr. Cu Singh, Sr. Adv.
Ms. Pyoli, AOR Ms. Ayesha Nasir Alavi, Adv.
Mr. Rajiv Shankar Dwivedi, Adv. Ms. Tulika Mukherjee, AOR Mr. Beenu Sharma, Adv.
Mr. Venkat Narayan, Adv.
Mrs. Shimpy Sharma, Adv.
Mr. Arman Roop Sharma, Adv. Mrs. Priya Pachouri, Adv.
Mr. Nishkarsh Kumar Pharswal, Adv. Mr. Sandeep Jindal, AOR Ms. Akriti Chaubey , AOR Mr. Shiv Mangal Sharma, A.A.G. Ms. Sonali Gaur, Adv.
Ms. Nidhi Jaswal, AOR Mr. Nishe Rajen Shonker, AOR Mrs. Anu K Joy, Adv.
Mr. Alim Anvar, Adv.
Mr. Santhosh K, Adv.
Mrs. Devika A.l., Adv.
Mr. Parth Awasthi, Adv.
Mr. Pashupathi Nath Razdan, AOR Ms. Maitreyee Jagat Joshi, Adv. Mr. Astik Gupta, Adv.
Ms. Akanksha Tomar, Adv.
Mr. Sanchit Garga, AOR Mr. Kunal Rana, Adv.
Mr. Shashwat Jaiswal, Adv.
8Ms. Diksha Arora, Adv.
Mr. Bhanu Pratap Singh, Adv. Ms. Aarohi Garg, Adv.
Mr. Aaditya Aniruddha Pande, AOR Mr. Siddharth Dharmadhikari, Adv. Mr. Shrirang B. Varma, Adv. Mr. Bharat Bagla, Adv.
Mr. Sourav Singh, Adv.
Mr. Aditya Krishna, Adv.
Mr. Adarsh Dubey, Adv.
Ms. Chitransha Singh Sikarwar, Adv.
Mr. Saurabh Mishra, AOR Mr. Shrimay Mishra, Adv.
Mr. Anil Kumar Jha, AOR Mr. Rana Ranjit Singh, AOR Mr. Vivek Kumar Singh, Adv. Mr. Ravish Singh, Adv.
Mrs. Akanksha Singh, Adv.
Mrs. Sweta Singh, Adv.
Mr. Aniket Rajput, Adv.
Mr. Nishant Kashyap, Adv.
Ms. Saiyam Maan, Adv.
Ms. Parul Kanojiya, Adv.
Mr. Sachin Patil, AOR Mr. Avijit Mani Tripathi, AOR Mr. Ranjan Mukherjee, AOR Mr. P. V. Yogeswaran, AOR Ms. K. Enatoli Sema, AOR Mr. Amit Kumar Singh, Adv.
Ms. Chubalemla Chang, Adv. Mr. Prang Newmai, Adv.
Ms. Yanmi Phazang, Adv.
Miss Pracheta Kar, AOR Mr. Anando Mukherjee, AOR Mr. Shwetank Singh, Adv.
Mrs. Riya Dhingra, Adv.
Mr. Utkarsh Anand, Adv.
Ms. Baani Khanna, AOR Mr. Robin Singh, Adv.
Mr. Kapil Balwani, Adv.
Ms. Komal Thakkar, Adv.
Ms. Sharmila Upadhyay, AOR 9 Mr. Sarvjit Pratap Singh, Adv.
Mr. Milind Kumar, AOR Mr. Ajay Pal, AOR Mr. Sameer Abhyankar, AOR Mr. Rahul Kumar, Adv.
Mr. Krishna Rastogi, Adv.
Ms. Arushi Chopra, Adv.
Ms. Yachna Sharma, Adv.
M/S. Arputham Aruna And Co, AOR Ms. Purnima Krishna, AOR Mr. Gopal Singh, AOR Mrs. Rachna Gupta, AOR Ms. G. Indira, AOR Mr. P Gandepan, Adv.
Mr. Anurag Kashyap, Adv.
Ms. Yashi Jain, Adv.
Ms. Anjali Singh, Adv.
Ms. Raniba Pangnila, Adv.
Mr. Abhishek Saket, Adv.
Mr. Sudeep Kumar, AOR Ms. Manisha, Adv.
Ms. Rupali, Adv.
Mr. J. K. Sethi, D.A.G. Mr. Akshat Kumar, AOR Mr. Sravan Kumar Karanam, AOR Mr. P. Venkatraju, Adv.
Ms. Santosh Kumar Yadav, Adv.
Mr. Kunal Mimani, AOR Mr. Aravindh S., AOR Ms. Anika Bansal, Adv.
Mr. Mukesh Kumar Maroria, AOR Mr. K.m Nataraj, A.S.G. Mr. Vatsal Joshi, Adv.
Mr. Krishna Kant Dubey, Adv. Mr. Bhuvan Kapoor, Adv.
Mr. Varun Chugh, Adv.
Mr. Santosh Ramdurg, Adv.
Mr. Yogesh Vats, Adv.
Mr. Shreekant Neelappa Terdal, AOR Mr. Tushar Mehta, SG 10 Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, A.S.G. Mr. Gurmeet Singh Makker, AOR Mr. Anmol Chandan, Adv.
Ms. Suhasini Sen, Adv.
Ms. Kiran Suri, Adv.
Ms. Chitrangda Rashtravara, Adv. Ms. Shivika Mehra, Adv.
Mr. Digvjay Dam, Adv.
Mr. Rohan Gupta, Adv.
Dr. P. George Giri, Adv.
Dr. Jasmin Kurian Giri, Adv. Mr. Ginesh P, Adv.
Mr. Vikas Sharma, Adv.
Mr. Akhileshwar Kumar, Adv. Mr. P. George Giri, AOR Ms. Rucha Pande, Adv.
Mr. Nishant, AOR Mr. Colin Gonsalves, Sr. Adv. Mr. Manik Gupta, Adv.
Mr. Satya Mitra, AOR Mr. Sanjay Parikh, Sr. Adv. Ms. Srishti Agnihotri, AOR Ms. Kritika, Adv.
Ms. Tara Elizabeth Kurien, Adv. Mr. D.p.singh, Adv.
Ms. Anchal Kanthed, Adv.
Ms. Sumita Hazarika, AOR Mr. Sravan Kumar Karanam, AOR Mr. P. Venkatraju, Adv.
Ms. Santosh Kumar Yadav, Adv.
Mr. Pratik R. Bombarde, AOR Ms. Aparna Bhat, Sr. Adv.
Ms. Rajkumari Banju, AOR Ms. Karishma Maria, Adv.
Mr. Sumeer Sodhi, AOR Mr. Shekhar G Devasa, Sr. Adv. Mr. Manish Tiwari, Adv.
Mrs. Thashmitha Muthanna, Adv. Mrs. Thasmitha Muthanna, Adv. Mr. Rakesh Kini, Adv.
Mr. Shashi Bhushan Nagar, Adv. M/s. Devasa & Co., AOR 11 Mr. Vinod Sharma, AOR Mr. Aravindh S., AOR Ms. Anika Bansal, Adv.
Mrs. Prerna Dhall, Adv.
Ms. Rajanadani Kumari, Adv. Ms. Rajnandani Kumari, Adv. Mr. Kapil Katare, Adv.
Mr. Saksham Gohoi, Adv.
Mr. Saksham Gohii, Adv.
Mr. Vishwas Sharma, Adv.
Mr. Prashant Singh, AOR UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R MA No.2625/2023 in W.P.(Crl.) No.1061/1982
1. The Miscellaneous Application is disposed of in terms of the signed order.
2. All pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of.
Rest of the matters
3. List on 25.02.2026.
(ARJUN BISHT) (PREETHI T.C.) ASTT. REGISTRAR-cum-PS ASSISTANT REGISTRAR (signed order in MA No.2625/2023 is placed on the file) 12