Full Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 30.03.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and W.M.P.Nos.7566 & 12368 of 2026 A.Chandra ... Petitioner Vs.
1. The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO), Represented by its Assistant Engineer, (Operation and Maintenance), Thirunagar, Hasthampatty, Salem - 636 007.
2. A Muniraj ... Respondents PRAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Certiorari, calling for records relating to the
order of the first respondent dated 23.01.2026 in Letter
Ka.No.U.Po/Epa/Hasthampatti/Ko.Puhar/No.010/2025 and quash the same and consequently direct the first respondent to give electricity service connection on commercial tariff to the petitioner’s shop premises, namely, A.J.Maligai Store, bearing Door No.123, Itteri Road, Hasthampatty, Salem - 7. For Petitioner : Mr.K.Selvaraj
ORDER
The writ petition has been filed challenging the order impugned dated 23.01.2026 made in Letter Ka.No.U.Po/Epa/Hasthampatti/Ko.Puhar/No.010/2025 of the first respondent and for a consequential direction to provide electricity connection to the petitioner’s shop premises, namely, A.J.Maligai Store, bearing Door No.123, Itteri Road, Hasthampatty, Salem - 7.
2. The petitioner claims that, she has been in possession of the subject
properties after the demise of her parents. The said properties devolved upon her along with her brother and her sister. Accordingly, all of them succeeded to the properties of their parents. The petitioner, along with her husband, is carrying on a commercial business in the portion in her occupation. The electricity service connection for the entire property, comprising both the commercial as well as the residential portions, originally stood in the name of the petitioner’s parents, namely Arunachala Udayar and Janaki. While so, on 20.10.2025, the petitioner’s brother, namely, Muniraj has illegally
disconnected the electricity supply to the portion in occupation of the petitioner. The petitioner thereafter lodged a complaint before the Local Police at Hasthampatty. During the course of enquiry, it was informed that, the electricity connection stands in the name of the petitioner’s brother and that he had effected the disconnection of the electricity supply to the petitioner’s shop. In the absence of partition among the legal heirs, the name transfer could not have been effected without the consent of the other legal heirs. Therefore, the petitioner has lodged a complaint on 04.11.2025 to the first respondent. Pursuant to the same, the first respondent sent a show cause notice on 24.11.2025 to the petitioner’s brother, namely, Muniraj as to how he has effected the name transfer without the consent of the other legal heirs. As on date, the said compliant is pending on the file of the first respondent.
3. Since the petitioner is unable to carry on her livelihood by running
the commercial business in the absence of electricity supply, she submitted an online application dated 27.11.2025 to the first respondent seeking a new electricity service connection to her shop bearing Door No.123, Itteri Road,
Hasthampatty, Salem - 7. The first respondent, by communication dated 23.01.2026, informed the petitioner that, in view of the pendency of a civil suit in O.S.No.172 of 2024, her application could not be considered and that the same would be taken up only based on the outcome of the said civil suit. Aggrieved by the said communication dated 23.01.2026, the present writ petition has been filed.
4. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner. This Court also perused the materials placed on record.
5. Admittedly the petitioner is a co-owner of the property and is
unable to eke out her livelihood due to the disconnection of the electricity supply. The dispute regarding ownership of the property cannot stand in the way of providing an electricity service connection to the portion occupied by the petitioner, and the same has to be adjudicated only by the competent civil Court in the pending suit. However, considering the facts and circumstances of the case and also the fact that it pertains to the livelihood of the petitioner,
this Court without interfering with the impugned order is inclined to direct the first respondent to consider the petitioner’s application dated 27.11.2025 and pass appropriate orders, on merits and in accordance with law, after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner as well as any other interested parties, if any, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, without reference to the impugned order.
6. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
16.03.2026 NCC: Yes / No Index : Yes / No Speaking Order : Yes / No vji To The Assistant Engineer, (Operation and Maintenance), Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO), Thirunagar, Hasthampatty, Salem - 636 007.
M.DHANDAPANI, J.
vji and W.M.P.Nos.7566 & 12368 of 2026 30.03.2026