Patna High Court
Ranju DeviversusThe Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- A ABHISHEK REDDY
Holding
The Court held that the Assistant Electrical Engineer must accept the petitioners’ application for an electrical connection and consider it in accordance with law.
Summary
A group of residents filed a writ petition in the Patna High Court seeking a writ of mandamus directing the Assistant Electrical Engineer of South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. to accept their application and payment for an electricity connection to premises in Rajiv Nagar and Digha. The respondents contended that the petition could be disposed with a direction to accept the application. The Court examined whether the electricity department has a statutory duty to process such applications and whether mandamus is the proper remedy. It held that the authority must accept the application and consider it strictly in accordance with law, directing the respondent to do so within four weeks. Accordingly, the petition was disposed with the said direction.
Issues considered
- Whether the respondent authority is legally bound to accept the petitioners' application for an electrical connection and allow payment of the requisite amount
- Whether a writ of mandamus is the appropriate remedy to compel the authority to act
Subjects
- electrical connection
- writ of mandamus
- public utility
- electricity supply
- administrative law
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.4468 of 2026
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1. Ranju Devi, Wife of Late Anand Mohan Thakur, Resident of Mohalla- Ward
No.9, Prabhu Thakur mohalla, P.S.-Rosera, District - Samastipur, At present
Lalan Babu Path, Bajrang Vihar Colony, A.K.Marbal Road, Near Baba Gril
Shop, P.S.- Rajiv Nagar, District -Patna.
2. Sushil Kumar Mishra, Son of Kalika Mishra, Resident of Village- Amathu,
P.S.- Bikramganj, District Rohtas, At present Bajrang Vihar Colony,
A.K.Marbal Road, Near Baba Gril shop, P.S.- Rajiv Nagar, District - Patna.
3. Prakash Kumar Jha, Son of Sri Mohan Jha, Resident of Mohalla- Ward
No.7, Bishanpur Pitounjiya, P.S.- Karpurigram, District - Samastipur, At
present Lalan Babu Path, Bajrang Vihar Colony, A.K.Marbal Road, Near
Baba Gril Shop, P.S.- Rajiv Nagar, District - Patna.
4. Monika Raj, Wife of Sri Sanjay Kumar, Resident of Mohalla- Salimpur
Ahra, Road No.3, behind I.M.A.Hall, P.S.-Patliputra, District - Patna, At
present- Vasant Vihar Colony, Maa Kali Road, Near pipe factory, Ghurdaur
Road, P.S.- Rajiv Nagar, District - Patna.
5. Neelam Sahni, Wife of Sri Chandeshwar Sahni, Resident of Mohalla- House
No.27, Road No. 24, Rajiv Nagar, P.S.-Rajiv Nagar, District Patna, At
present -Vasant Vihar Colony, Maa Kali Road, Near new Transfarmer,
Sector-7, P.S.- Rajiv Nagar, District - Patna.
6. Padmawati Kumari, Wife of Sri Apurva Kumar Rajan, Resident of Mohalla-
Dilawarpur, Shahzubair Road, P.S.-Munger, District- Munger, At present
Jagdamba Colony, Road No.6, Ghurdaur Road, Sector-7, P.S.- Rajiv Nagar,
District - Patna.
7. Gita Kumari, Wife of Sri Ravindra Kumar Ravi, Resident of Village-
Khamaini, P.S.- Rampur Chauram, District - Arwal, At present- Pappu
Manjhi More, Near Kabari Shop, Ghurdaur Road, P.S.-Rajiv Nagar, District
- Patna.
8. Suman Kumari, Wife of Sri Abhay Kumar, Resident of Village- Nakta
Diyara, P.S.- Digha, District- Patna, At present -Pappu Manjhi More, Near
Kabari Shop, Ghurdaur Road, P.S.- Rajiv Nagar, District - Patna.
9. Niraj Kumar Sharma, Son of Sri Jogendra Sharma, Resident of Mohalla-
Road No.6, East Patel Nagar, P.S.- Shastri Nagar, District- Patna, At present
Vasant Vihar Colony, Maa Kali Road, Near pipe factory, Ghurdaur Road,
P.S.- Rajiv Nagar, District - Patna.
10. Bijay Malti Devi, Wife of Sri Ashok Kumar Tiwary, Resident of Mohalla-
Flat No.2/C, R.R.Enclav, Near Pani Tanki, P.S.-S.K.Puri, District Patna, At
present- Vasant Vihar Colony, Maa Kali Road, Near pipe factory, Ghurdaur
Road, P.S.- Rajiv Nagar, District - Patna.
11. Rohan Kumar, Son of Late Ranjan Kumar, Resident of Mohalla- Chandra
Vihar Colony, P.S.-Rajiv Nagar, District -Patna, At present- Vasant Vihar
Colony, Maa Kali Road, Near pipe factory, Ghurdaur Road, P.S.- Rajiv
Nagar, District - Patna.
12. Prerna, Wife of Sri Santosh Kumar Singh, Resident of Mohalla- House No.
23, New Patliputra Colony, Church Road, P.S.- Patliputra, District - Patna,
Patna High Court CWJC No.4468 of 2026(2) dt.30-03-2026
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At present- Vasant Vihar Colony, Maa Kali Road, Near pipe factory,
Ghurdaur Road, P.S.- Rajiv Nagar, District - Patna.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited through its Chief
Managing Director, Vidyut Bhawan, Baily Road, Patna.
2. The Chief Managing Director, Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd.,
Vidyut Bhawan, Baily Road, Patna.
3. The General Manager-cum Chief Engineer, Patna, Electric Supply Union,
South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd., Baily Road, Patna.
4. The Executive Engineer, Electric Supply Division, South Bihar Power
Distribution Company Ltd., Danapur, Patna.
5. The Assistant Electrical Engineer, Electric Supply Sub-Division, South
Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd., Digha, Patna.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Sunil Kumar Singh, Advocate.
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Vivek Prasad, Advocate.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. ABHISHEK REDDY
ORAL ORDER
2 30-03-2026 Heard the learned counsel for the parties.
2. The present Writ Petition has been filed for the
following relief(s):-
“…...for issuance of a writ in
the nature of mandamus commanding the
respondent authorities, particularly
respondent no. 5 to accept the
application of the petitioners for an
electrical connection and allow him to
deposit the requisite amount for supply of
an electrical connection to the premises
of the petitioners situated Rajiv Nagar
and Digha Police Station, District-
Patna.”
3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
Patna High Court CWJC No.4468 of 2026(2) dt.30-03-2026
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respondents has stated that the present writ petition may be
disposed of with a direction to the Respondent No. 5 to accept
the application made by the petitioners along with the requisite
amounts and consider the same in accordance with law.
4. Having regard to the above made submissions, the
present writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the
Respondent No. 5 to accept the application of the petitioners for
an electrical connection along with the requisite amount and
consider the same strictly in accordance with law. The
Respondent No 5 is directed to consider the said application
within a period of four weeks from the date of the copy of the
receipt of this order.
5. With the above directions, the present writ petition
stands disposed of to the extent indicated above.
(A. Abhishek Reddy, J)
shakir/-
U
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