J.Senthilkumar v. The Superintending Engineer

ORDER The present writ petition has been filed seeking to quash the order passed by the second respondent herein wherein the request of the petitioner for providing electricity service connection has been rejected.

¶2According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, he has put up a house in S.F.No.338/2 in Rajamanickampillai Nagar, Deepam Street, Airport, Tiruchirappalli District. He has made a request on 20.09.2024 seeking electricity service connection. However, the same has been rejected under the impugned order. The order does not reveal any reason for rejection of the same.

¶3The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents 1 & 2 submits that the survey number has been identified as a water body and in view of the communication of the Chief Engineer/Commercial, dated 16.09.2022, the authorities cannot provide service connection to the house put up in the water body.

¶4The learned counsel for the petitioner relied upon the decision of this Court in W.P(MD)No.21030 of 2022 dated 20.10.2023. Paragraph No.3 is extracted as follows:- "3. I can very well understand the hesitation on the part of the revenue authorities. But then, the adjacent houses of the petitioner have already been granted electricity service connection. The petitioner cannot be deprived. Electricity is a fundamental amenity. Therefore, the third respondent is directed to provide electricity service connection to the petitioner subject to fulfilment of the other usual formalities. NOC from the Tahsildar will not be insisted upon. This shall be done as expeditiously as possible. The petitioner cannot take advantage of the fact that this Court directed grant of electricity service connection and if the authorities take action for acquiring the water-body, this order will not come to the rescue of the petitioner. With this caveat, this writ petition stands allowed. No costs."

¶5In view of the decision of this Court, the authorities are directed to provide service connection to the writ petitioner within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is made clear that grant of service connection to the property will not in anyway be a defence for the writ petitioner, in case if the officials initiate any action for removal of encroachment.

¶6With the above said observations, this writ petition stands allowed to the extend as stated above. No costs. Consequently, connected writ miscellaneous petitions are also closed.

03.12.2025 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet: Yes/No RJR To

¶1The Superintending Engineer, Operation and Maintenance, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, Thendral Nagar, K.K.Nagar, Trichy District.

¶2The Assistant Engineer, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, Thendral Nagar, Sathanur Post, Trichy District.

¶3The Tahsildar, Trichy East Taluk, Trichy. R.VIJAYAKUMAR

, J.

RJR W.P.(MD)No.33945 of 2025

03.12.2025

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 03.12.2025 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR W.P.(MD)No.33945 of 2025 and W.M.P(MD)Nos.26790 & 26793 of 2025 J.Senthilkumar ...Petitioner Vs 1. The Superintending Engineer, Operation and Maintenance, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, Thendral Nagar, K.K.Nagar, Trichy District. 2. The Assistant Engineer, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, Thendral Nagar, Sathanur Post, Trichy District. 3. The Tahsildar, Trichy East Taluk, Trichy. (R3 is suo motu impleaded vide court order dated 26.11.2025 in W.P.(MD).No.33945 of 2025) ...Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of CERTIORARIFIED MANDAMUS calling for the records relating to the impugned online cancellation order dated 16.10.2024 of the 2nd respondent, quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the respondents to provide the single phase domestic electricity connection to the petitioner's house in S.F.No.338/2 situated at Rajamanickampillai Nagar, Deepam Street, Airport, Tiruchirappalli as per his Application in Application No. 2000622409242111 and Receipt No.PGCCAN672115183 dated 20.09.2024, within time frame as fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : M/s.B.Prasanna Vinoth For Respondents : Mr.S.Deenadhayalan Standing Counsel for R1 and R2 Mrs.D.Farjana Ghoushia Special Government Pleader for R3