Patna High Court
Keshav Kumar Singh @ Keshaw SinghversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- A ABHISHEK REDDY
Holding
The Court ordered restoration of electricity upon payment of Rs.41,816 and directed the respondent to furnish the arrears bill, allowing the petitioner to challenge it within two weeks.
Summary
The petitioner, Keshav Kumar Singh, sought restoration of his electricity supply after it was disconnected following a provisional and final assessment of Rs.41,816. The respondent electricity board, NBPDCL, claimed that the petitioner also owed arrears of Rs.6,37,903, for which no detailed calculation had been provided to the petitioner. The petitioner was willing to pay the Rs.41,816 but requested the arrears bill to challenge the larger amount. The Court directed the respondent to restore the electricity line upon receipt of Rs.41,816 within a week and to furnish the arrears bill within the same period. The petitioner was given a two‑week window to contest the arrears assessment, after which the respondent may take further action, including disconnection. The writ petition was consequently disposed.
Issues considered
- What amount, if any, must the petitioner pay before the electricity supply can be restored?
- Whether the respondent is obligated to provide a detailed calculation of the alleged arrears before the petitioner can challenge it.
Subjects
- electricity supply
- arrears
- provisional assessment
- writ petition
- restoration of service
- challenge of assessment
- consumer rights
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.6600 of 2026
======================================================
Keshav Kumar Singh @ Keshaw Singh Son of Bachcha Singh Resident of
Mohalla- Balesara Tole, Jagatiya near Panchayat Bhawan, Balesara, Daudpur,
Saran, P.O.- Tari, Police Station- Daudpur, District- Saran. at present- Street
Behind Shiv Mandir, Prabhunath Nagar, P.O.- Tari, Police Station- Mufassil,
District- Saran.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar, Patna.
2. The Principal Secretary, Department of Energy, Government of Bihar, Patna.
3. The Chairman-cum- Managing Director, Bihar State Power (Holding)
Company Ltd., Patna.
4. The Managing Director, North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd.
(NBPDCL), Patna.
5. The Electrical Executive Engineer, Electric Supply Division, Chapra (West).
6. The Junior Electrical Engineer, Electric Supply Section, Chapra.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Miss. Nikita Mittal, Adv.,
Mr. Akash Raj, Adv.
For the Respondent/s : Mr.Standing Counsel (13)
Mr. Jai Prabhat Kishore, AC to SC 13
For the NBPDCL Dr. Anand Kr., Adv.
Mr. Rajan Prakash, Adv.
Mr. Anuradha Mishra, Adv.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. ABHISHEK REDDY
ORAL ORDER
2 29-04-2026 Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner
submits that the premises of the petitioner was inspected on
11.12.2024 at around 1.15 P.M. and thereafter the authorities
have come up with a provisional assessment of Rs.41,816/-. and
thereafter, the final assessment was also given on 03.01.2025
with the punitive amount of Rs.41,816/-. Thereafter, a final
assessment dated 03.01.2025 was issued imposing a punitive
Patna High Court CWJC No.6600 of 2026(2) dt.29-04-2026
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amount of Rs. 41,816/-. Learned counsel submits that the
petitioner is willing to deposit the entire amount of Rs.41,816/-
and the authority may be directed to restore the power supply.
2. Per contra, learned counsel appearing on behalf of
the Respondent-NBPDCL submits that arrears of electricity
charges in respect of the premises of the petitioner are
approximately Rs. 6,37,903/- and in case the petitioner deposit
the same, the authority will restore the power supply. Learned
counsel further submits that the petitioner has not challenged the
earlier arrears levied on him.
3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
petitioner submits that till date the calculation of arrears
amounting to Rs. 6,37,903/- has not been given to the petitioner
and if the same is furnished, the petitioner shall challenge the
same before the competent authority.
4. Having regard to the above made submission, the
respondent authority is directed to restore the electricity line of
the petitioner subject to the petitioner depositing Rs. 41,816/-
within a period of one week from today. The authorities are
directed to furnish the bill for the arrears of electricity charges
within a period of one week. On such assessment being given,
the petitioner is free to challenge the same before the competent
Patna High Court CWJC No.6600 of 2026(2) dt.29-04-2026
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authority within a period of two weeks thereof. In case the
petitioner fails to challenge the earlier assessment of Rs.
6,37,903/- within a stipulated time, the respondent authorities
are free to take appropriate action, including disconnection of
the power supply. The petitioner shall continue to pay the
electricity charges as levied by the respondent authorities.
5. With the above direction, the present writ petition
stands disposed of.
(A. Abhishek Reddy , J)
Bhardwaj/-
U
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