APHC010209502026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3504] FRIDAY, THE FIRST DAY OF MAY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM WRIT PETITION NO: 11384/2026 Between: 1. SHREE RAM THEATRE, REP. BY ITS PROPRIETOR T. NARAYANA PRASAD, S/O. LATE RAM BRAHMAM, AGED 67 YEARS O/O. ADUSUMILLI GOPALA KRISHNAIAH ROAD, GUDIVADA-521301 2. SHREE LAKSHMI THEATRE, REP. BY ITS PROPRIETOR TVSDN SIVA RAMA CHOWDARY, S/O. T. HARISHCHANDRA PRASAD AGED 25 YEARS O/O. ADUSUMILLI GOPALA KRISHNAIAH ROAD, GUDIVADA- 521301 3. SHREE BRAHMA THEATRE, REP. BY ITS PROPRIETOR T. S. RAM PRASAD, S/O. LATE RAM BRAHMAM AGED 74 YEARS, O/O. ADUSUMILLI GOPALA KRISHNAIAH ROAD, GUDIVADA-521301 4. T. KRISHNA KUMARI,, W/O. T.S. RAM PRASAD AGED 68 YRS, OCC CANTEEN OWNER O/O. ADUSUMILLI GOPALA KRISHNAIAH ROAD, GUDIVADA-521301 ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY ENERGY DEPARTMENT SECRETARIAT VELAGAPUDI AMARAVATHI GUNTUR DISTRICT 2 2. THE ANDHRA PRADESH CENTRAL POWER, DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION LIMITED, REP BY ITS. CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, CORPORATE OFFICE BESIDE POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE ITI ROAD, VIJAYAWADA-520008. 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT ENGINEER, MACHILIPATNAM, KRISHNA DISTRICT. 4. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, OPERATIONS, GUDIVADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT 5. THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, OSD, TOWN GUDIVADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT 6. THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, OPERATIONS, D1, GUDIVADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT 7. THE ASSISTANT ACCOUNTS OFFICER, ELECTRICITY REVENUE OFFICER TOWN GUDIVADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue an appropriate writ more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the action of the Respondents in clubbing the (4) individual service connections of the petitioners i.e.. 6111298015119, 611298015000, 611298032612 and 6111298040745 into single connection and demanding to pay the Demand Short Billed amount of Rs. 5,01,356/- for the period from 24.06.2023 to 24.06.2025 in view of the proceedings Lr. No. Dy.EE/OSD/TGDV/F.NO 463/25, DATED 04/07/2025 issued by the respondent No.5 and subsequent proceedings Lr.No. AAO/ERO/T/GDV/JAO/SA/D.No. 126, dated 21.02.2026 issued 3 by the Respondent No.7 to pay amount of Rs. 2,24,270/- without considering the petitioner representation, dated 11.05.2024, 14.07.2025 and 05.04.2026 and without following due process of law as arbitrary and unconstitutional and consequently set aside the same and direct the Respondents demerge petitioners service connection i.e., 6111298015119, 611298015000, 611298032612 and 6111298040745 into single service and to bill separately for each service connections and to pass IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased may be pleased to DIRECT the Respondents not to disconnect the service connections of petitioners i.e., 6111298015119, 611298015000, 611298032612 and 6111298040745, pending disposal of the above writ petition, and pass IA NO: 2 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased may be pleased to SUSPEND the proceedings Lr. No. Dy.EE/OSD/TGDV/F.NO 463/25, DATED 04/07/2025 issued by the respondent No.5 and subsequent proceedings Lr.No. AAO/ERO/T/GDV/JAO/SA/D.No. 126, dated 21.02.2026 issued by the Respondent No.7, pending disposal of the above writ petition, and pass 4 Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. K V ADITYA CHOWDARY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR ENERGY 5 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM WRIT PETITION NO: 11384 of 2026 The Court made the following Order: Instant Writ Petition has been filed by the petitioners under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is filed for the following relief: “.... to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondents in clubbing the (4) individual service connections of the petitioners i.e.. 6111298015119, 611298015000, 611298032612 and 6111298040745 into single connection and demanding to pay the Demand Short Billed amount of Rs.5,01,356/- for the period from 24.06.2023 to 24.06.2025 in view of the proceedings Lr. No.Dy.EE/OSD/TGDV/F.NO 463/25, DATED 04/07/2025 issued by the respondent No.5 and subsequent proceedings Lr.No.AAO/ERO/T/GDV/JAO/SA/D.No.126, dated 21.02.2026 issued by the Respondent No.7 to pay amount of Rs. 2,24,270/- without considering the petitioner representation, dated 11.05.2024, 14.07.2025 and 05.04.2026 and without following due process of law as arbitrary and unconstitutional and consequently set aside the same and direct the Respondents demerge petitioners service connection i.e., 6111298015119, 611298015000, 611298032612 and 6111298040745 into single service and to bill separately for each service connections and pass such other order …”. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and Sri V.V.Satish, learned Standing Counsel for APCPDCL appearing for the respondents. 6 3. Initially the matter came up before this Court on 27.04.2026, on which date, the respondents are directed to get latest instructions in the lis. Accordingly, the matter is listed today. 4. Though learned counsel for the petitioners urged multiple grounds touching various aspects, presently, he restricts his prayer seeking permission to prefer representation to the 3rd respondent and the said authority may be directed to consider the same and pass appropriate orders, in accordance with the law. 5. For the said request, Sri V.V.Satish, learned Standing Counsel for APCPDCL reports no objection. 6. Having regard to the above facts and circumstances, the Writ Petition is disposed of with the following directions: i) Petitioners are directed to prefer representations to the 3rd respondent along with all the relevant documents to substantiate their assertions, within a period of two (02) weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order; ii) On receipt of the same, the 3rd respondent is directed to constitute and depute an Expert Team to inspect the premises of the ABR Cinemas, Next Theatre, Gudivada, so as to enable them to enquire into the ground 7 realities in the said premises and prepare a Report giving suggestion with regard to the common service connection to the said premises; iii) Basing on the said Expert Team Report, the 3rd respondent shall pass appropriate orders, after serving copy of the said Report to the petitioners and by duly affording an opportunity of hearing, within a period of eight (08) weeks, from the date of receipt of said Expert Team Report; and iv) Till passing of orders on the petitioners’ representations, respondent authorities are directed not to take any coercive steps against the petitioners. There shall be no order as to costs. Interlocutory applications, if any, pending shall stand closed. ____________________________________ JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM Date: 01.05.2026 PSA