Vesting of property of Board in State Government

Section 131 of the Electricity Act, 2003 deals with vesting of property of Board in State Government. With effect from the date on which a transfer scheme, prepared by the State Government to give effect to the objects and purposes of this Act, is published or such further date as may be stipulated by the State Government (hereafter in this Part referred to as the effective date), any property, inte The Act came into force on 10 Jun 2003.

(1) With effect from the date on which a transfer scheme, prepared by the State Government to give effect to the objects and purposes of this Act, is published or such further date as may be stipulated by the State Government (hereafter in this Part referred to as the effective date), any property, interest in property, rights and liabilities which immediately before the effective date belonged to the State Electricity Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board) shall vest in the State Government on such terms as may be agreed between the State Government and the Board.

(2) Any property, interest in property, rights and liabilities vested in the State Government under sub-section (1) shall be re-vested by the State Government in a Government company or in a company or companies, in accordance with the transfer scheme so published along with such other property, interest in property, rights and liabilities of the State Government as may be stipulated in such scheme, on such terms and conditions as may be agreed between the State Government and such company or companies being State Transmission Utility or generating company or transmission licensee or distribution licensee, as the case may be:

Provided that the transfer value of any assets transferred hereunder shall be determined, as far as may be, based on the revenue potential of such assets at such terms and conditions as may be agreed between the State Government and the State Transmission Utility or generating company or transmission licensee or distribution licensee, as the case may be.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, where,--

(a) the transfer scheme involves the transfer of any property or rights to any person or undertaking not wholly owned by the State Government, the scheme shall give effect to the transfer only for fair value to be paid by the transferee to the State Government;

(b) a transaction of any description is effected in pursuance of a transfer scheme, it shall be binding on all persons including third parties and even if such persons or third parties have not consented to it.

(4) The State Government may, after consulting the Government company or company or companies being State Transmission Utility or generating company or transmission licensee or distribution licensee, referred to in sub-section (2) (hereinafter referred to as the transferor), require such transferor to draw up a transfer scheme to vest in a transferee being any other generating company or transmission licensee or distribution licensee, the property, interest in property, rights and liabilities which have been vested in the transferor under this section, and publish such scheme as statutory transfer scheme under this Act.

(5) A transfer scheme under this section may--

(a) provide for the formation of subsidiaries, joint venture companies or other schemes of division, amalgamation, merger, reconstruction or arrangements which shall promote the profitability and viability of the resulting entity, ensure economic efficiency, encourage competition and protect consumer interests;

(b) define the property, interest in property, rights and liabilities to be allocated--

(i) by specifying or describing the property, rights and liabilities in question; or

(ii) by referring to all the property, interest in property, rights and liabilities comprised in a described part of the transferor's undertaking; or

(iii) partly in one way and partly in the other;

(c) provide that any rights or liabilities stipulated or described in the scheme shall be enforceable by or against the transferor or the transferee;

(d) impose on the transferor an obligation to enter into such written agreements with or execute such other instruments in favour of any other subsequent transferee as may be stipulated in the scheme;

(e) mention the functions and duties of the transferee;

(f) make such supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions as the transferor considers appropriate including provision stipulating the order as taking effect; and

(g) provide that the transfer shall be provisional for a stipulated period.

(6) All debts and obligations incurred, all contracts entered into and all matters and things engaged to be done by the Board, with the Board or for the Board, or the State Transmission Utility or generating company or transmission licensee or distribution licensee, before a transfer scheme becomes effective shall, to the extent specified in the relevant transfer scheme, be deemed to have been incurred, entered into or done by the Board, with the Board or for the State Government or the transferee and all suits or other legal proceedings instituted by or against the Board or transferor, as the case may be, may be continued or instituted by or against the State Government or concerned transferee, as the case may be.

(7) The Board shall cease to be charged with and shall not perform the functions and duties with regard to transfers made on and after the effective date.

Explanation.--For the purpose of this Part,--

(a) "Government company" means a Government Company formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).

(b) "company" means a company to be formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) to undertake generation or transmission or distribution in accordance with the scheme under this Part.

Section 131, The Electricity Act, 2003 (Act 36 of 2003).