S.Rajeswari v. The Assistant Engineer

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

[ CIRCUIT BENCH AT PORT BLAIR ] ...

WPA/737/2023 Smt. S. Rajeswari ... Petitioner Vs.

The Assistant Engineer ... Respondent Mr. K. Sabir ...for the Petitioner Mr. Tulsi Lall Mr. Rakesh Kumar ...for the Respondent July 20, 2023 (M.A.Mobin) Item No.8 The petitioner has encroached upon a Government Revenue land and claims to be in settled possession thereof. In support of such possession the petitioner has relied on a photograph and certain documents. The petitioner had applied for electricity connection, unfortunately the petitioner has not been favoured with electricity till date.

Mr.

Sabir, learned Advocate representing the petitioner submits that the petitioner has a right to obtain electricity which right cannot be denied.

Mr. Rakesh Kumar enters appearance on behalf of the respondent. He, however, could not produce any document to dispute that the petitioner is not in settled possession at this stage.

In view of the ratio laid down in the judgement reported in 2011(2) CHN (Cal) Abhimanyu

Mazumdar

Versus

Superintending Engineer, the concerned respondent authority is directed to grant electricity connection to the petitioner within a fortnight from the date of communication of this order if the Writ petitioner is found in settled possession of the land-inquestion. The petitioner shall be entitled to enjoyment of electricity so long the Writ petitioner is not dispossessed by due process, subject to payment of requisite charges and fulfillment of other criteria to get such electricity connection.

It is made clear that grant of electricity connection on the petitioner's encroached land will not create any equity in favour of the petitioner or be used by the petitioner as a document to establish possessory right over the subject plot to resist the rightful owner.

The parties shall act on the basis of a server copy of this order duly downloaded from official website, without insisting for production of a certified copy of this order. Since, I have not called for any affidavits, the allegations contained in the Writ Petition are deemed to have not been admitted by the respondent.

There shall be no order as to costs.

The Writ Petition is thus disposed of.

(Raja Basu Chowdhury, J.)