Supreme Court rules government press releases do not amount to “change in law” in power agreements

The Supreme Court dismissed compensation claims by Nabha Power Limited and Talwandi Sabo Power Limited against Punjab State Power Corporation Limited.

The Court held that government press releases and decisions do not qualify as a “change in law” under Power Purchase Agreements. 

A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine Masih upheld the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity’s ruling that only statutes, rules, or official gazette notifications count.

The Court added that administrative announcements have no legal force. It noted that actual changes happened only through Customs Notifications issued after the bids, leading to dismissal of the appeals.

[Nabha Power Limited v Punjab State Power Corporation Limited and others]