IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA [ CIRCUIT BENCH AT PORT BLAIR ] *** WPA/322/2026 Vera Sundery Vs The Superintending Engineer and Another Mr. U.Partha Sarthi … for the petitioner Mr. S. C. Mishra ... for the respondents July 01, 2026 [AKB] Item No.18 The writ petitioner is aggrieved by the non consideration of the petitioner’s application dated February 18, 2025 for grant of electricity supply at the petitioner’s residential premises. Learned Advocate appearing for the petitioner submits that the respondent electricity authorities have not supplied electricity to the petitioner despite an online application having being made on February 18, 2025 providing all relevant particulars therein. Learned Advocate appearing for the respondent electricity authorities submits that the petitioner’s application could not be allowed since the wiring and earthing at the petitioner’s premises are not up to the mark and the same may cause electrical hazards and/or accidents. It is further submitted that the petitioner is not the owner of the plot but he has encroached upon the plot as is evident from the petitioner’s online application. However, it is submitted that grant of electricity in favour of the petitioner has not been withheld on that ground. The only ground for non grant of 2 supply of electricity is that of safety in view of the poor condition of the electrical wiring and earthing at the premises. Having heard to the Learned Advocates appearing for the respective parties and having considered the material on record, this Court is of the view that the electricity authorities cannot be faulted for not granting electricity connection to the petitioner’s premises if the electrical wiring and the earthing at the petitioner’s premises does not match the required standard. However, it was incumbent on the electricity authorities to intimate the reason for withholding the grant of electricity to the petitioner’s premises. Be that as it may, since the reasons for withholding the petitioner’s supply are now known to the petitioner, the petitioner would upgrade the wiring and the earthing of the petitioner’s premises in accordance with the relevant laws, rules and regulations governing the field. The electricity licencee shall communicate to the petitioner the requirements that the petitioner has to meet for the purpose of supply being granted to the petitioner’s premises. Such communication must be made by the respondent electricity authorities to the petitioner within a week from date. If upon the communication being made the petitioner upgrades the electrical wiring and earthing at the relevant premises and the electricity authorities are satisfied that the electrical wiring and earthing at the petitioner’s premises fulfills the requirements of the relevant laws, rules and regulations, the electricity authorities would proceed to effect electricity supply to the said premises in accordance with law subject to 3 compliance with all other formalities and payment of requisite charges in accordance with law. WPA/322/2026 stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. (Om Narayan Rai, J.)