Railways Held to Be ‘Consumer’ Under Electricity Act, Not a Deemed Distribution Licensee: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India delivered an important judgment on 8 May 2026 in the dispute between Indian Railways and West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited and others. The Court examined whether Indian Railways could be treated as a “deemed distribution licensee” or whether it should be classified as a “consumer” under the Electricity Act, 2003. Background of Electricity Dispute The dispute arose when Indian Railways sought to procure…