p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK CRLMP No. 295 of 2026 Daitary Sahu @ Daityari Sahu ….. Petitioner Mr. Arjuna Charana Behera, Advocate -versus- 1. State of Odisha 2. Superintendent of Police, Balasore 3. Superintending Engineer (Electrical), TPNODL, JED,Jaleswar 4. Inspector in Charge (IIC), Jaleswar Police Station, Jaleswar, District-Balasore ….. Opposite Parties Mr. A.K. Apat, AGA (For O.Ps No.1 & 2) Mr. Lalit Moharana, Advocate (For O.P. No.3) CORAM: HON’BLE MISS JUSTICE SAVITRI RATHO ORDER 20.03.2026 Order No. 02. (Through hybrid mode) 1. This CRLMP has been filed for a direction to the Opposite Parties No.2 and 4 for providing Police assistance to the SDO, Jaleswar for restoration of the power supply to the house of the Petitioner as per the letter dated 24.04.2025. 2. The grievance of the Petitioner is that as the Petitioner did not fulfil the demand of the villagers to pay Rs.5,000/- towards Durga Puja Chaanda, the electricity connection to his house (Indira Awas) was forcibly cut by the villagers on 28.10.2023. On 30.09.2024, the Petitioner had made a request to the TPNODL authorities for restoring p. 2 the power supply to his house. As the power supply was not restored, he had filed W.P.(C) No. 5187 of 2025 in this Court and it was disposed of on 24.02.2025 with a direction to the Superintending Engineer (Electrical) for consideration of his representation. On 24.04.2025, pursuant to the order of this Court, the Superintending Engineer (Electrical) had requested to the IIC, Jaleswar Police Station for providing Police personnel for protection during restoration of the power supply to the house of the Petitioner. But they could not restore the connection as the villagers opposed them. On 12.06.2025, the Superintending Engineer (Electrical), TPNODL sent a letter to the Petitioner stating about the obstructions created by the villagers for restoration of the power supply to his house. Thereafter, the Petitioner has written a letter to the IIC, Jaleswar Police Station on 14.01.2026 to provide adequate Police assistance to the Superintending Engineer (Electrical), Jaleswar for restoration of the power supply to his house. But since his request was not acceded to, he has approached this Court. 3. It is stated by the learned counsel for the Petitioner that he has filed W.P.(C) No. 6429 of 2026 for a direction to the TPNODL authorities for restoring his power supply which is pending in this Court. 4. Mr. Lalit Moharana, learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the TPNODL Officers are being prevented by the villagers for p. 3 restoring the power supply of the Petitioner and W.P.(C) No. 6429 of 2026 is posted to 30.03.2026. 5. Mr. A.K. Apat, learned Additional Government Advocate draws the attention of the Court to page 15 of the letter of the Superintending Engineer, JED Jaleswar addressed to the Petitioner (part of the Annexure-1 series) where it is stated as follows: We would like to inform that after receipt of the your complaint regarding reconnection of power supply (after 28.10.2023), our department people had visited to the spot with an intention to reconnect the power supply, but at each time due to opposition from the villagers, the power supply could not be restored. thing could not be done as per requirement. Finally, the then Assistant Manager (Elect), Jaleswar No2 Section has requested the IIC, Jaleswar Police Station vide his letter no 98 (3) / 17.02.2024 in this regard and on dt. 18.02.2024, the officials of the department visited the spot along with police personnel to reconnect the power supply, but the villager particularly women folks have obstructed vehemently, so we unable to reconnect the power supply to the premises of the petitioner. It never daunted our sprit and we continued in our effort, but we failed in each our attempt due to opposition from the villagers. Even after the receipt of the order from Hon'ble High p. 4 Court our officials have attempted to restore the power supply again we face severe opposition from the villagers. You are well aware that on dt.21.04.2025 and 03.05.2025, the Superintending Engineer, Jaleswar Electrical Division, Jaleswar, Sub- Divisional Officer, Jaleswar Electrical Sub-Division, JE Jaleswar -II and other staff came to your area and met the villagers and had a details discussion with them regarding reconnection of power supply, but the villagers did not co- operate with the départment and held strong protests. Finally, finding no other alternative the Superintending Engineer, Jaleswar Electrical Division, Jaleswar has requested IIC, Jaleswar to provide police assistant attaching the order copy of Hon'ble High Court in WP (C) No 5187/2025 for restoration of power supply to the premises of petitioner. On dt. 07.05.2025, the Police personnel along with our staff moved to the spot but returned without any action due to strong protest and obstruction from the villagers. That our department had made valiant attempt and tried their best to reconnect the power supply even in the presence of police personnel but due to severe protest the connection couldn't be provided. Neither you nor family members came forward to support us or the police personnel. We have even taken the video clip during for the entire act.. We are much conscious that power supply is a basic need and fundamental right of the citizen and taken necessary p. 5 steps for reconnection of power supply. When we find that the law and order situation will deteriorate and there is strong possibility of violence against our official and police personnel, we had to left the spot. Please take note that we have taken best/sufficient steps to give the reconnection of power supply but due to strong opposition from villagers and non-co-operation from your end, made us unable to provide the power supply. Considering the same, your representation is disposed off. As per directions given by Hon'ble High Court, the Respondent No: 3 i.e. undersigned is signing this representation as new CEO is yet to take charges for day to day affairs of the Company.” 6. From this it is apparent that the villagers are preventing reconnection of electricity line to the house of the Petitioner but apparently without any justification. They neither have any right nor authority to do so. 7. Mr. Arjuna Charana Behera, learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner has already deposited Rs.190/- towards for reconnection charges of his electricity line and the house, in question has been built under the ‘Indira Awas Yojana’ but on account of the obstruction by the villagers as he was not unable to pay the Chaanda during Durga Puja, some of the villagers are not allowing restoration of p. 6 puspa electricity connection to his house. 8. Electricity is a basic amenity. It cannot be denied to the Petitioner. The obstruction of the villagers to the officials of the TPNODL on the ground of non-payment of “Chaanda” is per se illegal. 9. The S.P., Balasore-Opposite Party No.2 is therefore directed to deploy adequate Police force including women Police for restoration of the electricity connection to the house of the Petitioner within a period of two weeks from receipt of this order. It is open to the Opposite Party No.2 to first take steps for amicably resolving the dispute between the Petitioner and the villagers as the Petitioner has to stay in the village amongst the villagers. 10. It is also directed that if there is any obstruction to the personnel of the TPNODL in carrying out their duty, action in accordance with law shall be taken by the Police. 11. With this observation, the CRLMP is disposed of. 12. Urgent certified copy of this order be granted on proper application. (Savitri Ratho) Judge Designation: Personal Assistant