Sk. Sayder Ali v. West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited And ORS.

D/L.36.

April 22, 2024.

MNS.

WPA No. 2691 of 2024 Sk. Sayder Ali Vs.

West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited and others Syed E. Huda, Sk. Aptabuddin ... for the petitioner.

Mr. Srijan Nayak, Mrs. Rituparna Maitra ...for the WBSEDCL.

Mr. Pantu Deb Roy, Mr. Manas Sadhu ...for the State.

Mr. Souvik Das, Mr. Tapas Chatterjee ...for the respondent no. 7.

1. Affidavit-of-service filed in Court today be kept on record.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner has been running from pillar to post to get electricity connection. After a previous round of litigation, the matter was turned down before the concerned Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in view of the bar of limitation. The petitioner approached this Court in the writ jurisdiction and an order was

passed, in pursuance of which the matter went to the concerned District Magistrate.

3. The District Magistrate, by the order dated August 18, 2023 annexed at pages 52 and 53 of the writ petition, directed the BL&LRO, Ramnagar-I, to demarcate the outer line of the proposed approach road with pegging within four weeks from receipt of the order and Assistant Engineer and Station Manager to extend electric connection to the residence of the petitioner as per provision of law and that the Officer-in-Charge, Ramnagar, will provide all sorts of assistance for enforcement of the order.

4. Despite having such order, the petitioner has not yet got such connection in the summer months due to the inaction in so demarcating.

5. Learned counsel for the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) submits that in view of no such demarcation having taken place, the Assistant Engineer and Station Manager of the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL), have been unable to give such connection.

6. Learned counsel for the State submits that in view of the recently commenced general elections, the BL&LRO and other State

officials are under extreme work pressure, for which the demarcation could not be done.

7. However, it transpires that the Magistrate's order was dated August 18, 2023 and by now should have been complied with by the BL&LRO. Having not done so, giving some leeway in view of the ongoing election, the demarcation ought to be completed within an outer limit of three weeks from date.

8. Accordingly, WPA No. 2691 of 2024 is disposed of by directing the respondent no. 6, that is, the BL&LRO, Ramnagar-I, to comply with the direction dated August 18, 2023 of the District Magistrate, Purba Medinipur, and to complete the demarcation as directed therein within three weeks from date.

9. Immediately thereafter, the Assistant Engineer and Station Manager shall comply with the order of the District Magistrate and extend electricity connection to the residence of the petitioner, preferably within a fortnight thereafter, subject to compliance of all formalities by the petitioner.

10. If obstructed, it will be open to the WBSEDCL personnel, also in compliance with the order of the District Magistrate, Purba Medinipur, to approach the local police authorities.

11. If so approached, the said police authorities shall comply with the order of the District Magistrate and give adequate police assistance for the enforcement of the District Magistrate's order.

12. There will be no order as to costs.

13. 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.)