B.Kothandan v. The Superintending Engineer

ORDER The writ petition has been filed seeking a mandamus to the 4th respondent to consider petitioner's application seeking new electricity service connection, by fixing the electricity meter in the petitioner's shop.

¶2The case of the petitioner is that his forefathers owned a property measuring 3667 sq.ft. of land with a building thereon which is the subject property. After the demise of his parents, the said property was inherited by the petitioner and his three brothers namely Kannan, Devaraj, Gopalasamy. The subject property has 2 commercial single phase connection and 3 domestic single phase connection. The electricity service connection for the property stands in the name of the petitioner's mother. The petitioner and his siblings were in joint occupation of the subject property. After the demise of the petitioner's mother, his brother Gopalswamy had transferred one commercial and one domestic connection in his name without the consent of others. When the petitioner had applied for transfer of service connections, the same could not be effected, as his brother Gopalswamy had already succeeded in getting the service connection in his favour. Page3 of 6

¶3Since the petitioner could not have the service connection transferred in his name, he had applied for a new commercial single phase service connection. The necessary charges were paid and the officials had inspected the site for providing the electricity connection. However, there was an objection from the petitioner's brother, the connection could not be effected in the subject property. It is also brought to the notice of the Court that a civil suit in O.S.No.141 of 2025 is pending before Additional District Court, Poonamallee, seeking declaration and partition of suit property, and this was alleged to be ground for not considering the petitioner's claim in providing new electricity service connection.

¶4The grievance of the petitioner is that despite his completing all the formalities as required by the authorities, and having paid the necessary charges and the petitioner was also assigned a file No.2000924010251262 for new connection, and the inspection was also conducted by the officials in the petitioner's property, the respondents are not coming forward to fix the meter in the subject property, on the ground of objections by the private parties and pendency of civil suit. Page4 of 6

¶5Heard the learned counsel on either side and also perused the materials placed before this Court.

¶6In the light of the objections raised by the petitioner's brother and that a suit for partition and declaration is pending in O.S.No.141 of 2025 before Additional District Court, Poonamallee, the fourth respondent shall consider the claim of the petitioner, conduct an enquiry, issue notice to the petitioner and other interested parties, afford them an opportunity of hearing and thereafter, within a period of four weeks, shall pass speaking orders if they are rejecting the petitioner's application or if the objections are frivolous and not backed by orders granting new connection.

¶7With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. 11-02-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DS Page5 of 6 To:

¶1The Superintending Engineer TANGEDCO, Chennai South I, K.K.Nagar , Chennai 78.

¶2The Executive Engineer (Operations and Maintenance) TANGEDCO, K.K. Nagar, Chennai – 600 078.

¶3The Assistant Executive Engineer (Operations and Maintenance) TANGEDCO, Valasaravakkam, Chennai.

¶4The Assistant Engineer (Operations and Maintenance) TANGEDCO, Valasaravakkam, Chennai Page6 of 6

P.T.ASHA, J. DS

11-02-2026

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 11-02-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA B.Kothandan S/o. Late. Babu Naidu, Residing at No. 7/9 Arcot Road, Ganapathy Nagar,Porur, Chennai 116 ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Superintending Engineer TANGEDCO, Chennai South I, K.K.Nagar , Chennai 78. 2. The Executive Engineer (Operations and Maintenance) TANGEDCO, K.K. Nagar, Chennai – 600 078. 3. The Assistant Executive Engineer (Operations and Maintenance) TANGEDCO, Valasaravakkam, Chennai. 4. The Assistant Engineer (Operations and Maintenance) TANGEDCO, Valasaravakkam, Chennai ..Respondent(s) PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying to issue Writ of Mandamus directing the 4th respondent to consider petitioner's application, seeking new electricity service connection for petitioner shop, bearing No.2000924010251262 and to effect the new service connection by fixing the electricity meter in the premises and to pass order. Page2 of 6 For Petitioner(s): Mr.K.M.Subrahmaniam For Respondent(s): Mr.L.Jai Venkatesh Standing Counsel for R1 to R4