Abul Hasan v. West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. And ORS.

AD-23 Ct No.09 25.01.2024 TN WPA No. 626 of 2024 Abul Hasan Vs.

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. and others Mr. Md. Idrish .... for the petitioner Mr. Asif Dewan .... for the WBSEDCL 1.

The present writ petition has been preferred by the petitioner who is a cultivator by occupation. It is contended that the petitioner, due to financial difficulties, could not pay the electricity bills for which his connection was severed. Since the connection operates the submersible pump of the petitioner which is his source of livelihood, the petitioner seeks to deposit a portion of the dues for getting a reconnection, subject to paying the rest of the balance later.

2.

Learned counsel for the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) hands over a bunch of documents, comprised of a Statement of Facts (written instructions) received by him. It is argued that the petitioner has several consumer identification

numbers in respect of all of which he has left outstanding dues. The total outstanding dues amount to above Rs. 1 lakh. It is alleged that in respect of one of the consumer IDs, the petitioner, through third parties, sought to illegally reconnect the connection, which led to electrocution of a person.

3.

Be that as it may, since the WBSEDCL has disconnected the petitioner's supply under Section 56 of the Electricity Act, 2003, there is no scope for interference by this court unless the petitioner pays the dues and necessary reconnection charges for getting restoration of electricity supply.

4.

Accordingly, WPA No. 626 of 2024 is dismissed without any order as to costs.

5.

Nothing in this order shall, however, prevent the petitioner from paying the outstanding dues and reconnection charges and get back the electricity connection.

6.

In the event the petitioner approaches the WBSEDCL for some instalments in that regard, the WBSEDCL will be at liberty to consider such request.

Urgent photostat certified copies of this order, if applied for, be made available to the parties upon compliance with the requisite formalities.

(Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya, J.)