Patna High Court

M/s Sheetal Flour MillsversusThe State of Bihar

Decided: 24 April 2026
Disposal: DISPOSED
Bench: A ABHISHEK REDDY

Holding

The issuance of the bill dated 03.04.2026 is a fresh cause of action and must be contested before the appropriate consumer forum, not through the present writ petition.

Summary

The petitioner, Sheetal Flour Mills and its partner Shakti Bhushan Singh, paid Rs.3 lakh and reconnection charges and thereafter paid Rs.1 lakh monthly along with electricity charges as directed by the Court on 08.01.2026. The respondents later issued a fresh electricity bill dated 03.04.2026 demanding Rs.40,42,746, which included a certificate amount of approximately Rs.13.5 lakh for the period when the connection was discontinued. The Court held that the issuance of this new bill constitutes a fresh cause of action and cannot be entertained through the present writ petition. Accordingly, the petitioner was directed to continue paying Rs.1 lakh per month and the actual electricity charges until the certificate amount is fully paid. The Court granted the petitioner liberty to challenge the new bill before the appropriate consumer forum (CGRF). The writ petition was therefore disposed of.

Issues considered

Whether the issuance of a fresh electricity bill for a discontinued connection can be challenged through a writ petition.
Whether the High Court can direct the petitioner to continue paying stipulated amounts pending resolution of the fresh bill.

Subjects

electricity bill
writ petition
fresh cause of action
consumer forum
payment direction
certificate amount

Judgment

                     IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                               Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.16750 of 2025
                 ======================================================
                 M/s Sheetal Flour Mills its Partner Shakti Bhushan Singh, Gender- Male,
                 aged about 44 years, Son of Radha Kant Singh, resident of Village and Post-
                 Rampur Khajuriya, Sub Division- Chakiya, P.S.- Dumariyaghat, District- East
                 Champaran at Motihari.

                                                                            ... ... Petitioner/s
                                             Versus
           1.    The State of Bihar through the Secretary, Department of Energy,
                 Government of Bihar, Patna.
           2.    The North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited, Vidyut Bhawan,
                 Bailey Road, Patna through its Managing Director.
           3.    The Executive Service Engineer (High Tension, ESE (HT), North Bihar
                 Power Distribution Company Limited, Vidyut Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna.
           4.    The General Manager (Revenue), North Bihar Power Distribution Company
                 Limited, Vidyut Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna.
           5.    The Executive Engineer, Electric Supply Division, Chakia, District- East
                 Champaran at Motihari.
           6.    The Assistant Engineer, Bihar State Power Distribution Company Limited,
                 East Champaran, Motihari.

                                                           ... ... Respondent/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s   :     Mr.Manish Kumar Singh, Adv.
                 For the Respondent/s   :     Mr.Standing Counsel (1)
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. ABHISHEK REDDY
                                       ORAL ORDER

5   24-04-2026                 Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner

                   submits that pursuant to the order passed by this Court dated

                   08.01.2026, the petitioner has paid an amount of Rs.3 lakhs

                   along with the re-connection charges and thereafter, he has been

                   paying Rs. One lakh per month by 10 th of every month and also

                   the monthly electricity charges levied by the respondent

                   authority. Learned counsel submits that subsequently the

                   respondents have issued another electricity bill on 03.04.2026
             Patna High Court CWJC No.16750 of 2025(5) dt.24-04-2026
                                                        2/2




                       raising Rs.40,42,746.00/- for the period when the electricity

                       connection was discontinued which includes the certificate

                       amount of approximately, Rs.13.50 lakhs.

                                   2. This Court is of the opinion that the issuance of the

                       bill dated 03.04.2026 is a fresh cause of action and in case the

                       petitioner is aggrieved by the same, he has to approach the

                       CGRF disputing the amounts raised.

                                   3. Having regard to the above, the present writ

                       petition is disposed of granting liberty to the petitioner to

                       challenge the bill dated 03.04.2026 before the appropriate

                       forum. The direction of this Court to the petitioner to pay Rs.

                       One lakh per month by 10th of every month and also the actual

                       electricity charges levied by the authority every month shall

                       continue till the certificate amount of Rs. 13,50,169/- is totally

                       paid.

                                   4. With the above directions, the present writ petition

                       stands disposed of.



                                                                (A. Abhishek Reddy , J)
Bhardwaj/-

U

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