APHC010434212023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3209] TUESDAY, THE TWENTY SEVENTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NINALA JAYASURYA WRIT PETITION NO: 22293/2023 Between: 1. JANA NAGA SANKARA RAO, S/O SATYANARAYANA AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, OCC- CULTIVATION, R/O D.NO.2-48, MAIN ROAD, SUNNAVILLI VILLAGE ,UPPALAGUPTAM MANDAL,DR.B.R.AMBEDKAR KONASEEMA DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPLE SECRETARY, ENERGY DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI. 2. THE EASTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, REP.BY ITS SUPERINTENDENT ENGINEER, OPERATIONS CIRCLE,RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. 3. THE ASSISTANT ENGINEER, A.P. E.P.D.C.L OPERATION CIRCLE, UPPALAGUPTAM MANDAL, DR.B.R.AMBEDKAR KONASEEMA DISTRICT. 4. THE DY EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, A.P.E.P.D.C.L OPERATION CIRCLE, MUMMIDIVARAM, DR.B.R.AMBEDKAR KONASEEMA DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT(S): NJS,J W.P No.22293 of 2023 2 Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. BOKKA SATYANARAYANA KAMLA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR ENERGY 2. V V SATISH (SC for APEPDCL) NJS,J W.P No.22293 of 2023 3 The Court made the following Order: Heard learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Ms. Aishwarya Chowdary, learned Junior Standing Counsel representing the APEPDCL. 2. The present writ petition is filed aggrieved by the action of the officials of the DISCOM in taking steps to disconnect the power supply to service connection bearing No.1413310568000551 without issuing any notice or following due process of law as illegal, arbitrary, etc., and for consequential directions. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner referring to the averments made in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition made submissions inter alia to the effect that the petitioner is carrying on acqua culture operations in different survey numbers, the details of which are furnished in para No.4 of the affidavit by availing power supply from the respondent-DISCOM vide Service Connection No.1413310568000551. He submits that the petitioner is paying the electricity consumption charges regularly and there are no arrears whatsoever. However, referring to the communications stated to have been received from the officials of the Fisheries Department and Tahsildhar, Uppalaguptam Mandal, the respondent No.3 issued notice dated 19.08.2023, informing the petitioner that the power supply would be disconnected on the premise that the petitioner is conducting acqua culture operations illegally. He submits that such an action on the part of the respondent No.3 straight away intimating that the power supply would be disconnected without giving any notice or opportunity to the petitioner is violative of principles of natural justice and the relevant terms and conditions of supply. Under the said circumstances, he seeks appropriate directions. 4. He also submits that a learned Judge of this Court granted interim directions dated 28.08.2023 to the respondent authorities not to disconnect the power supply to the petitioner’s service connection number referred to above. NJS,J W.P No.22293 of 2023 4 5. He further submits that in view of the interim directions dated 28.08.2023, appropriate reliefs may be granted. 6. Ms. Aishwarya Chowdary, learned Junior Standing Counsel, on the other hand, submits that pursuant to the interim directions dated 28.08.2023, the respondent authorities have not taken any further action in the matter. She submits that the petitioner did not choose to implead neither the Fisheries Department nor the Tahsildhar. Be that as it may. She also submits that in the event, the authorities concerned intends to initiate any action, they will follow procedure contemplated under the terms and conditions of supply. 7. In the light of the submissions made, this Court is inclined to dispose of the writ petition providing that no coercive action in respect of the subject matter service connection shall be resorted to, except by following the due procedure as contemplated under law. 8. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. Miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. __________________________ JUSTICE NINALA JAYASURYA Date:27.01.2026 Ksj