Santanu Das v. The Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation Limited And ORS

21.06.2022 TN WPA No.10149 of 2022 Santanu Das Vs.

The Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation Limited and others Mr. Arindam Sen, Ms. Rinku Sen, Mr. Sagnik Bhattacharya, Mr. Subhra Banik Chowdhury .... for the petitioner Mr. Om Narayan Rai, Ms. Sumouli Sarkar .... for the CESC Limited Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation Limited (for short "the CESC Limited"), on frivolous grounds, has refused to give electricity connection to the petitioner, who is a legal practitioner by profession and requires such connection immediately for his chamber.

Learned counsel appearing for the CESC Limited places reliance on the communication of the CESC Limited dated May 19, 2022, annexed at page-16 (Annexure - P5) of the writ petition. In the said communication, the CESC Limited has specifically raised several objections to the new

electricity connection being given to the petitioner, primarily to the effect that an existing meter is already providing electricity supply at the premises, that the new connection, if given, might lead to splitting of existing load and of the consumption of units and that due to technical considerations, it would be extremely dangerous to have more than one source of supply for a particular unit as it may lead to fire and electrical hazard.

Since the petitioner is disputing such contention of the CESC Limited, the appropriate authority to resolve such dispute, in accordance with the Regulations framed by the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission within the purview of the Electricity Act, 2003, is the concerned Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO).

Accordingly, WPA No.10149 of 2022 is disposed of by granting leave to the petitioner to approach the concerned GRO for resolution of the disputes as raised in the present writ petition. If so approached, the GRO shall decide the same in accordance with law upon giving adequate opportunity of hearing to all concerned, including the petitioner and the CESC Limited, as expeditiously as possible, positively within six weeks from such reference, without being

influenced in any manner by any of the observations made herein.

There will be no order as to costs.

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.)