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Madras High CourtWP/45987/2025disposed of

N.Rajendran v. The Assistant Engineer

2026-01-07Honourable Ms. Justice P.T. Asha7 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 07-01-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA N.Rajendran S/o. Narayanasamy No. 2/418 Ellaiamman Koil Street Chinna Kattur, Venbedu, Thiruporur Taluk, Chengalpet District. ..Petitioner(s) Vs The Assistant Engineer Operation & Maintenance TANGEDCO SS Complex, Thiruporur - 603 110.

..Respondent(s) PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned order dated 23.10.2024 in No. Ka.No. A.E/ O&M/ Thiruporur/Ko.Thani/A.No.344/2024 issued by the Assistant Engineer, Operation and Maintenance, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, S.S Complex, Thiruporur - 603 110, the respondent herein and quash the same and consequently direct the respondent to provide electricity service connection to the petitioner's residence and pass orders.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.P.Nandakumar For Respondent(s):

Mr.L.Jaivenkatesh, Standing Counsel

ORDER

The writ petition has been filed seeking the following relief : "To issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned order dated 23.10.2024 in No. Ka.No. A.E/ O&M/ Thiruporur/Ko.Thani/A.No.344/2024 issued by the Assistant Engineer, Operation and Maintenance, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, S.S Complex, Thiruporur - 603 110, the respondent herein and quash the same and consequently direct the respondent to provide electricity service connection to the petitioner's residence"

2. The case of the petitioner is that he is the permanent resident of Vembedu Village, Thiruporur Taluk, Chengalpattu District. His ancestors were in occupation of said property over several decades. Thereafter, the property came to the hands of the petitioner and he had been in occupation for more than fifty years. However, no electricity service connection was provided to the subject property. Hence, the petitioner made a joint representation on 26.08.2024 along with similarly placed residents of his village, requesting to provide electricity connection. They had enclosed all residential documents namely Aadhar Card, Family Card and Property Tax receipts etc., Since the said representation was not considered by the authorities, they filed a writ petition in W.P.No.29999 of 2024. This Court by order dated 23.10.2024, had directed

the authorities to consider the representation of the petitioners therein.

3. Pursuant to the directions of the Court in W.P.No.29999 of 2024, the respondent had passed the impugned order dated 23.10.2024 directing the petitioner to obtain a 'No Objection Certificate" from the Revenue Department and the same may be submitted through online along with necessary fees, so as to enable the authorities to provide an electricity connection.

4. The petitioner would submit that while the consumer is willing to provide the requisite undertaking and indemnity bond in availing the electricity connection, a "No Objection Certificate" from the Revenue Authority is not mandatory. The petitioner would submit that as per Clause 27(12) of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Code, the person who is residing in a poromboke land, shall be granted with electricity connection, either on he/she submitting a "No Objection Certificate". That apart, the petitioner would also contend that the properties which are adjacent to his lands, were provided with electricity connection and the same parity can be extended to him. He had also produced a copy of the Electricity Card and receipts of his adjacent land owner. Hence, the petitioner is before this Court seeking to quash the impugned order of the respondent insisting the petitioner to provide a "No Objection Certificate" from the revenue authorities,for grant of electricity service connection.

5. The respondent in his counter affidavit would state that as per Regulations 27(12) Amendment 2019 of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Code, a person who resides in a poromboke land and seeks an electricity service connection, should necessarily produce a "No Objection Certificate" issued by the concerned Tahsildar. This was communicated to the petitioner in the impugned proceedings of the respondent. The respondent would submit that the impugned proceedings is nothing but a compliance to the Court's direction in W.P.No.29999 of 2024. However, the petitioner has not filed any such online application till date enclosing the necessary documents in accordance with the Regulations.

6. Regulation 27(12) Amendment 2019 of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Code would read as follows :

"Supply shall be given in Poromboke lands / Government lands on production of No Objection Certificate obtained from the concerned officer of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The applicant shall execute an indemnity bond in FORM-6 of the Appendix-III to this code and also pay security deposit twice the normal rate."

7. It is an admitted fact that the petitioner resides in a poromboke land without electricity service connection for over several decades, and that there is a direction of this Court in W.P.No.29999 of 2024, to pass orders on the

petitioner's representation seeking electricity connection. It is also seen that the respondents have complied with the orders of this Court vide impugned order dated 23.10.2024. The impugned order only mentions that for providing a electricity service connection, production of "No Objection Certificate" from the jurisdictional Tahsildar is mandatory. Taking into account the Regulations 27(12) Amendment 2019 of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Code, the impugned order of the respondent is not liable to be quashed.

However, this Court dispose of the writ petition with the following directions : (1)The petitioner shall submit a fresh application through online forthwith enclosing the 'No Objection Certificate" issued by the jurisdictional revenue authorities for grant of electricity connection to the petitioner's property, along with indemnity bond and security bond as mandated in the Regulations of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Code. (2)The jurisdictional revenue authorities while considering the request for issue of a 'No Objection Certificate' shall bear in mind the fact the similarly placed persons have been provided with electricity service connection.

(3)Upon receipt of the said application, the respondent shall pass necessary orders and provide electricity connection to the petitioner's subject property within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of application along with requisite documents from the petitioner.

There shall be no order as to costs.

07-01-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DS To:

The Assistant Engineer Operation & Maintenance TANGEDCO SS Complex, Thiruporur - 603 110.

P.T.ASHA J.

DS 07-01-2026