Biswanath Talukder v. West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd And ORS.

AD-01 Ct No.09 15.06.2023 TN WPA No. 13166 of 2023 Biswanath Talukdar Vs.

West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited and others Mr. Debashis Banerjee, Mr. Rakesh Jana .... for the petitioner Mr. Debanjan Mukherji .... for the WBSEDCL Mr. Amitesh Banerjee, Ms. Ipsita Banerjee .... for the State Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that when the petitioner sought for a new electricity connection in his name in view of the alleged disconnection of electricity to the petitioner's portion of the premises by other co-owners, the new connection was refused by the Distribution Licensee inter alia on the ground that there is no separate establishment or demarcation in the building from the existing one and that there might be splitting of load of electricity.

Learned counsel appearing for the Distribution Licensee submits that the apprehension of splitting of load has been specifically raised in the said objection, which has been annexed to the present writ petition.

As such, the grievance is to be redressed before the Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO).

There is justification in such contention of the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL).

Since there is an alternative remedy with greater scope of canvassing the facts before the GRO, WPA No. 13166 of 2023 is disposed of by granting liberty to the petitioner to approach the concerned GRO with the disputes as raised in the present writ petition. If so approached, the GRO shall decide the issue in accordance with law, upon giving adequate opportunity of hearing to all concerned, as expeditiously as possible, positively within six weeks from the date of such reference being made.

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.)