WPA 26540 of 2026 Mahammad Farikul Alam -v 29.9.2026 The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co.Ltd. & Ors. Sl.no.20 ct.652 Mr. Sandipan Maity Mr. Sk. Saifuddin ….for the petitioner Mr. Sujit Sankar Koley …for the WBSEDCL 1. The instant writ petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking reconnection of electricity line at his husking mill which has alleged to have been disconnected on account of unauthorized use of electricity. 2. Fact remains that the respondent authority conducted inspection on the allegation of unauthorized use of electricity in the husking mill on 22.05.2017. Since thereafter, the respondent detected electrical theft and raised bill against the father of the petitioner. The matter travelled to the statutory appellate authority, which has assessed the final bill amount to be Rs. 3, 03,020/-. The said amount has been paid by the father of the petitioner on 23.07.2018. 3. It appears that in spite thereof in 2020, the electricity connection in the husking mill of the petitioner was disconnected on the allegation of non-payment of bill by the petitioner/his father. Since thereafter, in 2021 and 2022, the father of the petitioner made representations but to no avail. 4. Lastly, the petitioner vide his representation dated 8.9.2026 has prayed for restoration of the electricity connection at the husking mill 2 run by him after death of his father, on 26.10.2022. The same is now pending before the Station Manager, Malatipur Customer Care Centre, Malda, District-Malda. 5. The learned advocate for the petitioner submits that this Court may pass an order by directing the said authority to immediately consider the said representation and allow electricity reconnection at the husking mill of the petitioner. 6. On behalf of the respondent authority, Mr. Koley, learned advocate has raised strong objection to the contention and prayer of the petitioner. He has submitted that there are outstanding bill amount unpaid till date by the mill, which are required to be paid to establish electricity connection therein. He submits that unpaid bill amount stands in excess and independent of the charges assessed on account of theft of electricity in the said bill. It is submitted that the petitioner would also require to pay late payment service charges. The respondent says that only upon payment of the amount of unpaid bills and late payment service charges, the petitioner would be eligible to get a new electricity connection over there. 7. Mr. Koley, learned advocate for the respondent authority informs that the total outstanding amount on account of unpaid bills and late payment service charges of the petitioner now stands to be Rs. 3,00,92/-. 8. However, it is informed further that no bill to recover for outstanding has yet been raised by the respondent against the petitioner. 3 9. Having taken into consideration all the factual aspects as above, let the instant writ petition be disposed of by directing that necessary steps should be taken by the respondent no. 4, in consideration of petitioner’s representation dated 8.9.2026, for grant of electricity connection to the husking mill of the petitioner including raising bill for outstanding unpaid amount of previous consumption and late payment service charges. Subject to his fulfilling all the requires statutory and other formalities, the respondent authority shall grant electricity connection to the husking mill of the petitioner, as prayed for. 10. Let it be mentioned that upon raising any bill for outstanding consumption and late payment service charges and upon the petitioner paying the said amount of money expeditious necessary steps should be taken by the respondent authority to grant electricity connection to the petitioner, maximum within a period of 15 days from the date of complying with all formalities by the petitioner. 11. The writ petition being WPA 26540 of 2026 is disposed of with directions as aforementioned. (Rai Chattopadhyay, J.) 4