Madras HC Grants Swelect Energy 180 Days More to Complete Velalaviduthi Pooling Substation Without Extra Commitment Charges

Swelect Energy Systems Limited sought a seven-month extension, without commitment charges, to complete and commission its 110/33 kV pooling substation at Velalaviduthi.

It also sought expeditious processing of pending commissioning approvals, including registration and issuance of a Noted for Record (NFR) for its solar plant.

At the hearing, both sides submitted that the case was factually similar to W.P. No. 21524 of 2026 (Batch), decided on 19 August 2026, and that the same directions could be applied.

No statute or distinct legal doctrine was identified as the basis for the decision.

The Court applied its earlier order in W.P. No. 21524 of 2026 (Batch), which directed that authorities process pending requests and certificates so projects could proceed towards commissioning, and that 180 days be added to each petitioner’s final commissioning deadline without additional commitment charges.

The present Court treated that order as applicable because the facts were identical.

The Court accepted the parties’ joint submission that the circumstances matched those in the earlier batch, including the delay associated with the NFR issue.

Finding no material distinction warranting different treatment, it disposed of the petition on the terms of that order and granted a 180-day extension without additional commitment charges.

The earlier order’s directions concerning the processing of pending requests and certificates were incorporated by reference.

The respondents were directed to grant a 180-day extension, starting from 29 October 2026, without additional commitment charges.

No costs were ordered, and the connected miscellaneous petitions were closed.