E.Dhanalaxmi v. The Superintending Engineer And ANR

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

[ CIRCUIT BENCH AT PORT BLAIR ] *** WPA/121/2026 E. Dhanalaxmi Vs The Superintending Engineer & Anr.

Mr. U Pratha Sarthi ... for the petitioner Mr. S.C.Mishra ... for the Respondents March 16, 2026 [AKB] Item No.9 1.

This application has been filed by the petitioner for non action and inaction on the part of the respondent authorities by not providing the electric connection to the house of the petitioner.

2.

It is submitted by the learned advocate representing the petitioner that the petitioner has encroached the government revenue land bearing Survey No. 393 measuring an area of 60 Sq.

mtrs.

situated at Bhathubasti parking backside Pathergudda village Sri Vijaya Puram Tehsil, South Andaman District and constructed a dwelling house and residing there with his family members since long.

3.

It is the further case that they are enjoying the physical possession of such land and approached the respondent authorities for obtaining electricity connection. It is submitted by the learned advocate for the petitioner that the Joint Secretary (UT) Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India on 09th May, 2003 intimated the Chief Secretary, Andaman and Nicobar Administration that Ministry has accorded sanction to provide electric connection to the families residing on the

revenue land. In spite of such beneficial scheme the present petitioner is deprived of electric connection since the date of filing of application from November, 2025. Accordingly prays for a specific direction to provide electric connection to the dwelling house.

4.

The learned advocate representing the respondent on the other hand raises objection to the entitlement of the petitioner to avail the benefit of such scheme which was of 2003 but the cut of date was 1993 when the petitioner was a minor as appears from the Adhar Card annexed with the writ petition. 5.

Heard the submissions of the respective learned advocates representing the parties and perused the materials on record. An issue has been raised regarding entitlement of the electric connection at the house in respect of the alleged encroached land under the scheme as the petitioner was at that time a minor but the application filed before the respondent no 2 long back in the month of November 2025 is still pending for disposal. In view of that at this stage calling for affidavit does not appear to be necessary.

6.

It goes without saying that electricity being an essential amenities indispensable to day to day life, the authorities ought to have addressed and disposed of the application at a much earlier point of time.

7.

Hence the respondent no 2 before whom the application is pending is directed to dispose of such application within a period of three weeks from the date either by passing a reasoned order after giving opportunity of hearing to the present

petitioner or by granting electric connection if otherwise he is entitled to.

8.

Since no affidavit has been called for the allegations contained in the writ application are deemed to have been not admitted.

9.

Hence this writ petition stands disposed of with the above directions.

10.

Parties are directed to act on the serve copy of this order to be downloaded from the official website of this Court. (Chaitali Chatterjee (Das), J.)