R.Srinivas v. The Tamilnadu Electricity Board
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 16-03-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and WMP.No.11331 of 2026 R.Srinivas s/o.S/o.late.R.Ratnasami, residing at New No.2 Old No.10, Narayanan Street, Mahaalingapuram, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034 ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Tamilnadu Electricity Board Rep. by its Chairman, Puraswalkam, Chennai-600 084
2. The Superintendent Engineer MGr Salai, 110/33/11 KV Valluvar Kottam, SS complex, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034
3. The Executive Engineer O and / TANGEDCO/ ANNA NAGAR, D.No.1100-A, H-Block 5th Street, 11th Main Road, Ranganathan Garden, Anna Nagar, Chennai-600 040
4. The Additional Divisional Engineer Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Mahalingapuram
No.26, Tank Bund Parallel road, Pushpa Nagar, Nungabakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu-600 034.
5. The Assistant Engineer Tamil nadu Electricity Board, Mahalingapuram, No.26, Tank Bund Parallel Road, Nungambakkam Chennai, Pushpa Nagar, Nungambakkam, Chennai, Tamil nadu 600 034.
6. M.Narendran S/o.late.A.Manoharan, residing at No.50, VGP layour, 3rd main road, Palavakkam, Chennai-600 041
7. M.Kanchana D/o.late.A.Manoharan, residing at B-50, Hillview Apartments vasant vihar, New Delhi-110057 ..Respondent(s) Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 5 to cancel the name transfer effected in the name of the 7th respondent for service connection number 09-171-029-43 for Flat No.B (2nd Floor) and in the name of the 6th respondent for service connection number 09-171-029-44 for Flat No.C (3rd Floor) at No.9/4 Narayanan Street, Mahalingapuram, Chennai-600 034 and to transfer the said Electricity service connections to the name of the petitioner For Petitioner(s):
Mr.T.Mohan, Sr. Counsel for Mr.J.Chandran Sundar Sashikumar For Respondent(s):
Mr.V.Vijay Narayanan, Sr. Counel for M/s.B.Arvind Srevatsa for R6 & R7 Mr.L.Jai Venkatesh for R1 to R5
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents 1 to 5 to cancel the name transfer effected in the name of the seventh respondent for service connection number 09-171-029-43 for Flat No.B (2nd Floor) and in the name of the sixth respondent for service connection number 09-171-029-44 for Flat No.C (3rd Floor) at No.9/4 Narayanan Street, Mahalingapuram, Chennai-600 034 and to transfer the said Electricity service connections to the name of the petitioner.
2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties. With the consent of both sides, the present Writ Petition is taken up for hearing at the admission stage itself.
3. The learned Senior counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner's elder brother Mr.R.Ramachandran died on 12.11.2025 due to illness and alcohol abuse disorder and the petitioner being the only Class II legal heir performed the last rites of his brother and also took possession of his brother's estate, namely, Flat No.B [II Floor] and Flat No.C [III Floor] situated at Tulips Sree Chakra building located at Mahalingapuram, Chennai and received rents from the tenants of the said property. He submitted that the property and water tax assessments were also in the name of the petitioner. He argued that while
so, the sixth respondent issued a legal notice dated 08.01.2026 claiming right over the subject property which is in possession of the petitioner based on a Will dated 29.09.2025 alleged to have been left by the petitioner's elder brother. He also contended that while applying for transfer of electricity service connection by the petitioner to his name for the subject properties, he came to know that the same were transferred in the name of the respondents 6 & 7 respectively without providing any opportunity of hearing to the petitioner or conducting any enquiry and aggrieved by the same, the petitioner sent his objection dated 31.01.2026 to the fifth respondent and further, sent a legal representation dated 07.02.2026 to the respondents 3 & 4, which was also forwarded to the fifth respondent, however there was no response from the respondents 3 to 5 on the petitioner's representation.
4. Furthermore, the learned Senior counsel argued that the petitioner has filed W.P.No.3015 of 2026 before this Court challenging the Patta transfer in the name of the respondents 6 & 7 in respect of the subject property, which is pending and in the said petition, the respondents 6 & 7 before this Court had given an undertaking that they will not make any encumbrance or alienate the subject property pending Probate proceedings. He also contended that pending litigations, neither the Electricity Board nor Revenue Authorities have any right to transfer or change the records of the subject property in the name of the respondents 6 & 7. He also added that the petitioner filed a caveat petition and
objections in the Probate filed by the respondents 6 & 7 in O.P.No.124 of 2026 for execution of the Will in their favour, which has yet to be converted as TOS and in the meanwhile, the petitioner also made an application for transfer of electricity service connection in his name in respect of the subject property, however, the same was not considered by the Electricity Board and hence, with no other option, the petitioner has approached this Court with the aforesaid relief by way of the present Writ Petition.
5. Per contra, the learned Senior counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents 6 & 7 submitted that based on the Will of the petitioner's brother, the electricity service connection have been transferred in the name of the respondents 6 & 7 and they have filed Probate in O.P.No.124 of 2026, which is yet to be converted as TOS. He further submitted that this Court may close the petition observing that the Electricity Board may transfer the service connection in the petitioner's name, however the petitioner shall not claim any equity as the same is subject to the outcome of the OP/TOS pending before this Court.
6. I have considered the rival submissions made by the respective learned Senior Counsels and also perused the materials available on record.
7. Admittedly, the fact in the present case is not disputed. There is a property dispute between the petitioner and the respondents 6 & 7 which is
pending in O.P.No.124 of 2026. It is pertinent to note that already a Writ Petition filed by the petitioner in W.P.No.2015 of 2026 in respect of the said issue is also pending. It is to be noted that merely because of name transfer in respect of electricity service connection and mutation of revenue records will not confer the title of the subject property in favour of the respondents 6 & 7.
8. In view of the above, the respondents 6 & 7 are directed not to make any encumbrance or alienate the subject property and further, the Electricity Board shall maintain the status quo as on date. However, the name transfer in respect of Electricity Service Connection in the subject properties in favour of the petitioner is subject to the outcome of the OP/TOS pending before this Court. Registry is directed to tag the Writ Petition W.P.No.3015 of 2026 along with O.P.No.124 of 2026.
9. With the above observations and directions, the Writ Petition is disposed of. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
16-03-2026 Index: Yes/No DP
To
1. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Rep. by its Chairman, Puraswalkam, Chennai-600 084
2. The Superintendent Engineer MGr Salai, 110/33/11 KV Valluvar Kottam, SS complex, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034
3. The Executive Engineer O and / TANGEDCO/ ANNA NAGAR, D.No.1100-A, H-Block 5th Street, 11th Main Road, Ranganathan Garden, Anna Nagar, Chennai-600 040
4. The Additional Divisional Engineer Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Mahalingapuram No.26, Tank Bund Parallel road, Pushpa Nagar, Nungabakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu-600 034.
5. The Assistant Engineer Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Mahalingapuram, No.26, Tank Bund Parallel Road, Nungambakkam Chennai, Pushpa Nagar, Nungambakkam, Chennai, Tamil nadu 600 034.
M.DHANDAPANI, J.
DP 16-03-2026
W.P.No.10463 of 2026 M.DHANDAPANI,J.
The matter is today listed under the caption 'for being mentioned'. 2.The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that earlier the petitioner filed W.P.No.3015 of 2026, however, in paragraph no.7 of the order dated 16.03.2026 made in W.P.No.10463 of 2026, inadvertently, it has been mentioned as 'W.P.No.2015 of 2026', and prayed for appropriate orders.
3.The learned counsel appearing for the respondents 6 and 7 submitted that the service connection has to be transferred in the petitioner's brother's name, however, in paragraph no.5 of the order dated 16.03.2026 made in W.P.No.10463 of 2026, inadvertently, it has been mentioned as 'the Electricity Board may transfer the service connection in the petitioner's name', and prayed for appropriate orders. 4.In view of the above, (i)Paragraph no.5 of the order dated 16.03.2026 made in W.P.No.10463 of 2026, is to be read as follows: "5. Per contra, the learned Senior counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents 6 & 7 submitted that based on the Will of the
petitioner's brother, the electricity service connection have been transferred in the name of the respondents 6 & 7 and they have filed Probate in O.P.No.124 of 2026, which is yet to be converted as TOS. He further submitted that this Court may close the petition observing that the Electricity Board may transfer the service connection in the petitioner's brother's name, however the petitioner shall not claim any equity as the same is subject to the outcome of the OP/TOS pending before this Court."
(ii)Paragraph no.7 of the order dated 16.03.2026 made in W.P.No.10463 of 2026, is to be read as follows: "7. Admittedly, the fact in the present case is not disputed. There is a property dispute between the petitioner and the respondents 6 & 7 which is pending in O.P.No.124 of 2026. It is pertinent to note that already a Writ Petition filed by the petitioner in W.P.No.3015 of 2026 in respect of the said issue is also pending. It is to be noted that merely because of name transfer in respect of electricity service connection and mutation of revenue records will not confer the title of the subject property in favour of the respondents 6 & 7."
5.Registry is directed to carry out the necessary corrections and reissue copy of the order to the respective learned counsel appearing for the parties.
08.04.2026 pri
M.DHANDAPANI,J.
pri W.P.No.10463 of 2026 08.04.2026