M.Khaja Mohideen v. The Superintendent Engineer
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS Dated : 09.04.2025
CORAM
THE HON'BLE Mr. JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY & W.M.P.No.14315 of 2025 M.Khaja Mohideen ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Superintendent Engineer (North East), Zone-5, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Chennai 2.The Assistant Engineer, Zone 5, Ward 52, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, No.1, M.C.Road, Old Washermenpet, Chennai 600 021 3.The Area Engineer (North East), Zone-5, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Chennai ... Respondents 1/6
Prayer:
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents to inspect the petitioner metro water service connection in CMC.No.05/052/00139/ 000 and fix the proper utility charges for consumption of water. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Sabarish For Respondent : Ms.V.Vijayalakshmi, Standing counsel
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed to direct the respondents to inspect the petitioner metro water service connection in CMC.No.05/052/00139/ 000 and fix the proper utility charges for consumption of water.
2. Ms.Vijayalakshmi, learned Standing counsel, takes notice on behalf of the respondents. By consent of the parties, the main writ petition is taken up for disposal at the admission stage itself. 2/6
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner and his brother are joint owners of the subject property, for which, they are paying water tax regularly. Under these circumstances, all of a sudden, the water tax charges were exorbitantly increased by the respondent. Hence, the petitioner had requested the respondents to inspect the water connection at petitioner's premises and clarify with regard to the sudden increase of water tax charges. In this regard, he had also filed representations dated 18.09.2024 and 16.09.2024 before the respondents. Even after the receipt of said representations, no order has been passed by the respondents till date. Hence, this writ petition.
4. In reply, the learned Standing counsel appearing for the respondents would requests this Court to pass appropriate orders directing the respondent to consider and dispose of the representation made by the petitioner.
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5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing counsel for the respondents and also perused the materials available on record.
6. In the case on hand, the petitioner and his brother are the joint owners of the subject property, for which, they have been paying the water tax charges regularly. However, all of a sudden, there was a exorbitant increase in the water tax charges and hence, the petitioner had requested the respondent to inspect the metro water connection provided at the subject premises and to fix the proper utility charges for consumption of water. In this regard, the representations dated 16.09.2024 & 18.09.2024 have also been filed by the petitioner. However, the same was not considered by the respondents till date.
7. In view of the above, this Court directs the respondents to consider the said representations dated 16.09.2024 & 18.09.2024 and dispose of the same on its own merits and in accordance with law within a period of 4 weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. 4/6
8. With the above directions, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is also closed. 09.04.2025 Speaking/Non-speaking order Index : Yes / No nsa To 1.The Superintendent Engineer (North East), Zone-5, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Chennai 2.The Assistant Engineer, Zone 5, Ward 52, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, No.1, M.C.Road, Old Washermenpet, Chennai 600 021 3.The Area Engineer (North East), Zone-5, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Chennai 5/6
KRISHNAN RAMASAMY.J., nsa and W.M.P.No.14315 of 2025 09.04.2025 6/6