Chairman, M.P. Electricity Board And ... vs Shiv Narayan And Anr

The Supreme Court held that the legal profession does not constitute a commercial activity, thus the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board's classification of an advocate's office as a commercial establishment for electricity tariff purposes was incorrect. The Court affirmed the High Court's decision that the rates applicable to domestic consumers should apply when the premises serve both as a residence and an office. The ruling clarified the distinction between domestic and commercial consumers under the Board's circulars, emphasizing that the legal profession's nature does not align with commercial activities as defined by the Board.