S.Karthikeyan Vs The Superintending Engineer — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

S.Karthikeyan Vs The Superintending Engineer — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Interim directions: respondents to restore the electricity service connection subject to the petitioner depositing 25% of the arrears of current consumption charges (corrected to Rs.12,96,927/-) within one week from 07.07.2026; balance 75% payable in three equal monthly instalments on or before 31.07.2026, 31.08.2026 and 30.09.2026; liberty to the respondents to disconnect on default; order dated 24.06.2026 corrected by addenda and consequential registry corrections directed; matter posted to 14.07.2026.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents should restore the electricity service connection sanctioned to the petitioner, subject to deposit of 25% of the arrears of current consumption charges within the prescribed period. +2 more

Court's answer

The respondents are directed to restore the electricity service connection sanctioned to the petitioner, subject to the petitioner depositing 25% of the arrears of current consumption charges within a period of one week from 07.07.2026 (paragraph No.3 of the order dated 24.06.2026 as modified).

Ratio / Principle

The balance 75% of the arrears of current consumption charges shall be paid by the petitioner in three equal monthly instalments, on or before 31.07.2026, 31.08.2026 and 30.09.2026.

Key takeaways

In the event of default in payment of any one instalment, the respondents shall be at liberty to disconnect the electricity service connection and proceed in accordance with law.ratio¶49
The sum of Rs.19,62,877/- mentioned in paragraph No.2 of the order dated 24.06.2026 is substituted with Rs.12,96,927/-.ratio¶6
Paragraph No.3 of the order dated 24.06.2026 is modified so that the one-week period for deposit runs from 07.07.2026.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madurai Bench of Madras High Court (Hemant Chandangoudar, J.) — W.P.(MD)No.17701 of 2026, S.Karthikeyan v. Superintending Engineer, TANGEDCO & others. Writ petition under Article 226 seeking certiorarified mandamus to quash the BPSC portion of an electricity bill for service No.06-185-011-639 (June 2026) issued by the 4th respondent and to restore the electricity service connection. By order dated 24.06.2026 the Court directed restoration of the connection subject to the petitioner depositing 25% of the arrears of current consumption charges within one week, the balance 75% to be paid in three equal monthly instalments (on or before 31.07.2026, 31.08.2026 and 30.09.2026), with liberty to the respondents to disconnect on default of any instalment; arrears were recorded as Rs.19,62,877/- and penalty as Rs.6,65,950/-. On mention on 07.07.2026, the arrears figure in paragraph No.2 was corrected to Rs.12,96,927/- and the one-week period in paragraph No.3 was reckoned from 07.07.2026; the correction order was directed to be uploaded as an 'ADDENDA' with consequential registry corrections and certified copies; in all other aspects the order dated 24.06.2026 stands; matter posted to 14.07.2026.

W.P.(MD)No.17701 of 2026

HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.,

The captioned writ petition is listed today under the cause list caption 'FOR BEING MENTIONED' at the instance of learned counsel for the petitioner.

Mr.M.Prabhakaran, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.Ragupathy Balasubramanian, learned counsel for the respondent appeared before this Court through the videoconferencing platform.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that an error has crept into paragraph No.2 of the order dated 24.06.2026, insofar as the amount is stated as Rs.19,62,877/- instead of Rs.12,96,927/-. It is further submitted that the phrase “within a period of one week from today” in paragraph No.3 of the said order may be calculated from today i.e., 07.07.2026.

In the light of the above submission, the sum of Rs.19,62,877/mentioned in paragraph No.2 of the order dated 24.06.2026 is substituted with Rs.12,96,927/- . Further in paragraph No.3 of the said order shall be modified and read as follows:

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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.,

mk

“The respondents are directed to restore the electricity service connection sanctioned to the petitioner, subject to the petitioner depositing 25% of the arrears of current consumption charges within a period of one week from today i.e., from 07.07.2026.”

In all other aspects, the order dated 24.06.2026 remains the same.

This order will now be uploaded as an 'ADDENDA' to / along with order made by this Court on 24.06.2026 and the Registry is directed to carry out

necessary and consequential corrections and issue certified copies accordingly.

07.07.2026

mk

W.P.(MD)No.17701 of 2026 (2/2)

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED: 24.06.2026

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR

W.P(MD)No.17701 of 2026

S.Karthikeyan

... Petitioner

vs.

1.The Superintending Engineer, TANGEDCO, Trichy Region, Pudukkottai Circle, Pudukottai District.

2.The Executive Engineer, TANGEDCO, Thirumayam, Pudukottai District.

3.The Assistant Executive Engineer, TANGEDCO, Thirumayam, Pudukottai District.

4.The Assistant Engineer, TANGEDCO, Thirumayam Section, Pudukottai District. ... Respondents

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the impugned bill in respect to service No.06-185-011-639 from June 2026 issued by the 4^th respondent in so far as BPSC is concerned and quash the same

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and consequently, to direct the respondents to restore the electricity service connection in service No.06-185-011-639.

For Petitioner :Mrs.AL.Gandhimathi Senior Counsel for Mr.M.Prabhakaran For Respondents :Mr.S.Deenadhayalan *****

O R D E R

Mr. S. Deenadhayalan, learned counsel, takes notice on behalf of the

respondents and seeks time to obtain instructions and file a counter affidavit, if any.

2.It is submitted that a sum of Rs.19,62,877 /- is due from the petitioner

towards arrears of current consumption charges and a further sum of Rs. 6,65,950 /- is due towards penalty for non-payment of the said charges.

3.The respondents are directed to restore the electricity service connection sanctioned to the petitioner, subject to the petitioner depositing 25% of the arrears of current consumption charges within a period of one week from today.

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4.The balance 75% of the arrears of current consumption charges shall

be paid by the petitioner in three equal monthly instalments as follows:

(i) First instalment on or before 31.07.2026;

(ii) Second instalment on or before 31.08.2026; and

(iii) Third instalment on or before 30.09.2026.

5.In the event of default in payment of any one of the instalments, the respondents shall be at liberty to disconnect the electricity service connection and proceed in accordance with law.

6.Post the matter on 14.07.2026.

24.06.2026

cmr

(2/2)

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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

cmr

W.P(MD)No.17701 of 2026

24.06.2026 (2/2)

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