Abdul Majeed Vs Karthikeyan — Madras HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Abdul Majeed Vs Karthikeyan — Madras HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed

Issue for consideration

Whether the contemnor/respondent deliberately and willfully disobeyed the order dated 11.08.2025 passed by this Court in Rev.Aplw(MD)No.73 of 2024 (directing verification of the two-service-connections allegation and merger if both were domestic), warranting punishment under Section 11 of the Contempt of the Courts Act.

Court's answer

When one connection falls under the domestic tariff category and the other comes under the commercial tariff category, it is not possible to merge the two; that was the purport of the Court's earlier order.

Ratio / Principle

The Court is satisfied that the order dated 11.08.2025 has not been breached by the respondent; consequently no contempt arose and the petition is closed without punishment.

Key takeaways

If both connections fall under the domestic tariff category, the consumer would be entitled to 200 units of electricity free per month (stated as context for why tariff category governs merger/free units; the accompanying clarification that no free units arise under commercial tariff is recorded from the learned Standing Counsel and is not treated here as this court's holding).obiter¶¶20

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt of Courts Act, S.11 — Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, single bench (G.R.Swaminathan, J.), 22.01.2026. Petitioner (contemnor: Assistant Engineer, TANGEDCO, Thiruppathur) was charged with deliberate and willful disobedience of the High Court's order dated 11.08.2025 in Rev.Aplw(MD)No.73 of 2024, which had directed TANGEDCO to verify an allegation that the writ petitioner was enjoying two service connections and to merge them into one if both were used for domestic purposes. The Court found that both connections are indeed used only for domestic purposes, but one falls under the domestic tariff category and the other under the commercial tariff category; where tariff categories differ, the two connections cannot be merged — which was the purport of the earlier order — and free units (200 units/month) apply only if both connections are under domestic tariff. Holding that the order was not breached, the Court closed the Contempt Petition without imposing punishment.

Cont P(MD)No.69 of 2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 22.01.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN Cont P(MD)No.69 of 2026

in

Rev.Aplw(MD)No.73 of 2024

Abdul Majeed ... Petitioner / Petitioner

Vs.

Karthikeyan, Assistant Engineer, O/o.The Assistant Engineer, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited, Thiruppathur Town, Sivagangai District. ... Contemnor / Respondent

Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of the Courts Act to punish the Contemnor/Respondent for the deliberate and willful disobedience of the order dated 11.08.2025 passed by this Court in Rev.Aplw(MD)No.73 of 2024.

For Petitioner : Mr.V.Karthick Raja For Respondent : Mr.S.Deenadhayalan Standing Counsel

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Cont P(MD)No.69 of 2026

ORDER

The review application filed by the petitioner herein was disposed of on 11.08.2025 in the following terms:

“3.The learned counsel for the review applicant alleges that the writ petitioner is enjoying two service connections for domestic purpose. TANGEDCO is directed to verify and look into this allegation. It appears that the writ petitioner obviously have two connections.

4.The learned counsel for the petitioner states that one connection is for domestic purpose and the other is for commercial purpose. If it is found that both connections are being used for domestic purposes, they shall be merged into one.”

2.It is true that the writ petitioner appears to be utilizing both the service connections only for domestic purposes. However, when one connection falls under the domestic tariff category and the other comes under the commercial tariff category, it is not possible to merge the two. In fact, that was the purport of the order passed by this Court. If both connections fall under domestic tariff category, then the consumer would be entitled to 200 units of electricity free per month. It is clarified by the learned Standing Counsel that when the connections fall under

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Cont P(MD)No.69 of 2026

commercial tariff category, the question of granting free units does not arise at all. I am therefore satisfied that the order has not been breached by the respondent.

3.This Contempt Petition stands closed.

22.01.2026

NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No MGA To The Assistant Engineer, O/o.The Assistant Engineer, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited, Thiruppathur Town, Sivagangai District.

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Cont P(MD)No.69 of 2026

G.R.SWAMINATHAN,J.

MGA

Cont P(MD)No.69 of 2026

in

Rev.Aplw(MD)No.73 of 2024

22.01.2026

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