Calcutta High CourtWPA/131/2024disposed

K. Augustine v. The Superintending Engineer And ANR

2024-02-20Hon'Ble Justice Jay Sengupta2 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

[ CIRCUIT BENCH AT PORT BLAIR ] *** WPA/131/2024 K.Augustine Vs.

The Superintending Engineer and another Mr. M.K.Thakur .... for the petitioner Mr. Tulsi Lall ... for the respondents February 20, 2024 [SR] Item No.16 This is an application praying for a direction upon the respondent authorities to provide electricity connection to the dwelling house of the petitioner standing at part of land bearing survey No.418/P, measuring an area of 300 sq.mts situated at Bathu Basti, Garacharma Village, Port Blair Tehsil, South Andaman District.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits as follows. The petitioner resides in the dwelling house as mentioned above. The petitioner has made a representation before the respondent authorities for providing electricity connection. Electricity is an essential requirement which is to be provided to all citizens irrespective of their rights in respect of any property in question.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents submits as follows. The respondents have decided to grant electricity connection to the petitioner. However, some time may be granted for doing so.

The issue of grant of electricity connection for domestic use even to the families who had encroached on the government revenue land after the year 1978 but prior to April 1993 was decided by a Larger Bench of this Court in Abhimanyu Mazumdar vs. Superintending Engineer, reported at LAWS(CAL) 2011 2 36. In any event, the respondent authorities have decided to grant electricity connection to the petitioner, but have sought for some time for doing the same.

In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of by directing the respondent authority to grant electricity connection to the petitioner at the dwelling house as mentioned in the writ petition within a period of four weeks from this date upon compliance of all other formalities from the end of the petitioner. Urgent certified photostat copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance of usual formalities. ( Jay Sengupta, J. )