Disposed¶27

Ramachandran v. The Divisional Engineer

Madras HC1 Aug 2025WP(MD)/21007/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Electricity service connection; TANGEDCO reconnection direction; EB connection granted 2017; dwelling house S.No.343/16, Pachikkottai Village, Alangudi Taluk, Pudukkottai District; disconnection by sibling/private dispute; co-owner No Objection Certificate insistence rejected; citizens cannot disconnect existing power connection; reconnect forthwith subject to necessary charges; CCTV monitoring suggestion; recourse to competent Court against co-share owner; Writ of Mandamus under Article 226; disposed of at admission; no costs; Justice C. Saravanan; W.P.(MD) No. 21007 of 2025; 01.08.2025.

What did the court decide?

Direction to the respondents to reconnect the power/electricity service connection to the petitioner's property forthwith, subject to the petitioner paying necessary charges; writ petition disposed of with observations, no costs.

Ramachandran Vs The Divisional Engineer — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents should be directed to give/restore the electricity service connection to the petitioner's dwelling house notwithstanding their insistence on a No Objection from the co-owner after the connection was disconnected by the petitioner's sibling in a private dispute.

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Court's answer

It is not open for the citizens to disconnect a power connection that was given earlier; a private dispute does not entitle a person (including a sibling/co-share owner) to sever a lawful existing connection.

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Ratio / Principle

Since the petitioner has completed the building and the power connection was given in 2017, the respondents are directed to reconnect the power connection to the petitioner's property forthwith, subject to the petitioner paying necessary charges.

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Key takeaways

It is open for the petitioner to install CCTV to monitor any untoward incidents regarding any disconnection of the EB connection by the co-share owner.obiter¶25
If such steps are taken by the co-share owner, it is open for the petitioner to approach the competent Court for appropriate relief.obiter¶26

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ petition disposed of at admission with consent of counsel (C. Saravanan, J., Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, 01.08.2025): Where an electricity service connection was lawfully granted — here in 2017 to the petitioner's dwelling house at S.No.343/16, 0.01.11 Hector, Pachikkottai Village, Alangudi Taluk, Pudukkottai District — it is held that it is not open for citizens to disconnect the power connection given earlier, even where the disconnection was effected by the petitioner's sibling/co-share owner in a private dispute; consequently a No Objection from a co-owner cannot stand in the way of restoration. The Divisional Engineer and Assistant Engineer, TANGEDCO, Pachikkottai, were directed to reconnect the power connection forthwith, subject to the petitioner paying necessary charges. Observations: the petitioner may install CCTV to monitor any untoward disconnection by the co-share owner, and may approach the competent Court for appropriate relief if such steps are taken. No costs. Filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a Writ of Mandamus.

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W.P.(MD) No. 21007 of 2025

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 01.08.2025

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN

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W.P.(MD) No. 21007 of 2025

Ramachandran

... Petitioner

The Divisional Engineer, TANGEDCO, Pachikkottai, Alangudi Taluk, Pudukkottai District.

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The Assistant Engineer, Town / North / TANGEDCO, Pachikkottai, Alangudi Taluk, Pudukkottai District. ... Respondents

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct to the respondents to give Electricity Service Connection to the petitioner’s dwelling house at S.No.343/16 to an extent of 0.01.11 Hector, respectively, situated at Pachikkottai Village, Alangudi Taluk, Pudukkottai District, within the period that may be stipulated by this Court.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD) No. 21007 of 2025

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For petitioner : Mr. V.G.Vallarasu Chezhiyan For respondents : Mr.S.Deenadhayalan Standing Counsel *****

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ORDER

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This Writ Petition is disposed of at the time of admission with the consent of the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for the respondents.

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The petitioner has approached this Court to direct the respondents to give Electricity Service Connection to the petitioner’s dwelling house at S.No.343/16 to an extent of 0.01.11 Hector, situated at Pachikkottai Village, Alangudi Taluk, Pudukkottai District.

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The learned Standing Counsel for the respondents submits that EB connection was given to the petitoner in the year 2017. However, it was disconnected by the petitioner's sibling on account of the private dispute between them. Hence, the respondents are now insisting the petitioner to obtain No Objection from the co-owner.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD) No. 21007 of 2025

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It is not open for the citizens to disconnect the power connection that was given earlier. Since the petitioner has completed the building and power connection was given in the year 2017, there shall be a direction to the respondents to reconnect the power connection to the petitioner's property forthwith subject to the petitioner paying necessary charges.

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