Patna High Court
Umesh Prasad BarnawalversusThe Managing Director,
- Decided
- Disposal
- WITHDRAWN
- Bench
- A ABHISHEK REDDY
Holding
The High Court granted permission to withdraw the writ petition and directed the matter to be pursued before the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum.
Summary
The petitioner, Umesh Prasad Barnawal, filed a civil writ petition before the Patna High Court challenging actions of the South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited and its officials. He later sought the court's permission to withdraw the writ and instead pursue relief before the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum. The court considered whether a petitioner may voluntarily withdraw a writ petition and be directed to a consumer forum for the same grievance. It held that the petitioner is entitled to withdraw the writ, provided the court is satisfied that the alternative forum is appropriate for the dispute. Accordingly, the court granted permission to withdraw, ordered the petition to be disposed, and directed the authority to handle any subsequent consumer forum complaint within eight weeks. The order emphasizes the jurisdictional hierarchy and the suitability of consumer redress mechanisms for electricity supply grievances.
Issues considered
- Whether the petitioner may withdraw the civil writ petition and approach the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum
- Whether the High Court has jurisdiction to direct the petitioner to the consumer forum after withdrawal
Subjects
- withdrawal of writ petition
- consumer grievance redressal forum
- jurisdiction
- electricity supply dispute
- civil writ jurisdiction
- high court order
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.17034 of 2025
======================================================
Umesh Prasad Barnawal Son of Late Dhaneshwar Lal Barnwal @
Dhaneshwar Lal, Resident of Village- Pando, P.O.-Matia, P.S.- Barahat,
District- Jamui.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The Managing Director, South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited,
Vidyut Bhawan, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Patna.
2. The Chief Electricity Engineer, South Bihar, Electricity Supply Division,
Patna.
3. The Executive Electricity Engineer, Electricity Supply Division, Jamui.
4. The Assistant Electricity Engineer, Electricity Supply Division, Jamui.
5. The Junior Electricity Engineer, Electricity Supply Division, Jamui.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Vijaya Laxmi Srivastwa, Adv.
Mr. Muskon Singh, Adv.
For the Respondent/s : Mr.Vivek Prasad, Adv.
For the SBPDCL Mr. Kunal Tiwary, Adv.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. ABHISHEK REDDY
ORAL ORDER
2 21-01-2026 Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner
seeks permission to withdraw the present writ petition with the
liberty to approach the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum.
2. Permissions is granted.
3. The present writ petition is disposed of with the
aforesaid liberty. In case any complaint/application against the
building made by the respondent-authority is filed before the
Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum, the same shall be dealt
with in accordance with law. The authority shall endeavor to
Patna High Court CWJC No.17034 of 2025(2) dt.21-01-2026
2/2
pass necessary orders as expeditiously as possibly preferably
within a period of 8 weeks from the date of the receipt of the
said complaint/application by the petitioner.
(A. Abhishek Reddy , J)
Bhardwaj/-
U
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