Manik Hazra And Others v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

AD. 6.

November 18, 2021.

MNS.

(Through Video Conference) WPA No. 17813 of 2021 Manik Hazra and others Vs.

The State of West Bengal and others Mr. Md. Hasanuz Zaman ... for the petitioners.

Mr. Sumit Roy ...for the WBSEDCL.

Heard both the parties.

The grievance of the petitioners is that, despite the petitioners being so entitled under the Bangla Krishi Sech Yojona (BKSY) Scheme floated by the Agricultural Department, no electric connection has been given for installation of submersible pumps, despite the petitioners having duly applied for the same.

Learned counsel appearing for the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (in short 'WBSEDCL') categorically places the application of the petitioners annexed to the writ petition itself and points out several discrepancies therein, including the omission of the specific address of the petitioners at which the connection is sought. That apart, learned counsel for the WBSEDCL also points out that the purported way leave deposited by the petitioners contains the signature of the petitioners themselves, which is unheard of.

Over and above, it is submitted that the petitioners may not be the owners of the concerned Dag number in respect of which the petitioners seek to install the submersible pumps.

Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, in reply, submits that no such difficulties were pointed out to the petitioners by the respondent-authorities, which contention is squarely controverted by learned counsel appearing for the WBSEDCL.

Be that as it may, it is evident from the application and the way leave of the petitioners themselves, that the same did not comply with the requisite norms and omitted various essential details in the application form. As such, WBSEDCL cannot be faulted at this stage for not giving connection to the petitioners, under the Scheme-in-question or otherwise.

In order to get the benefit of the Scheme, the petitioners have to comply with the formalities, which are essential for taking connection of a submersible pump first.

Accordingly, WPA 17813 of 2021 is disposed of by directing the petitioners to file an appropriate application for getting electric connection for operating their submersible pumps and to comply with all the norms and guidelines for getting such electric connection, for the purpose of installing submersible pumps, within a fortnight from date. In the event, such an application is made and other preliminary formalities

are complied with by the petitioners, the WBSEDCL, through its officers, shall consider the application, as expeditiously as possible, and give such connection to the petitioners, subject to due compliance with all requisite formalities by the petitioners.

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.)