WPA/29655/2026 of AJIT HALDER Vs STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS. on 15 October 2026

1. This writ petition is directed against the order issued by DE & Station Manager, Berhampore CCC, WBSEDCL dated 13.07.2026, which is in substance a notice issued against the petitioner for payment of outstanding dues against consumer ID number 312090262 connected to meter number T2239946, having been disconnected from 16.09.2017. The said notice also pertains to consumer ID number 301642392 having finally disconnected on and from 20.06.2026. The petitioner's allegation inter alia is that in spite of his payment to the tune of Rs. 38,000/- and odd as per demand of the respondent company on the ground of outstanding bill amount, a

purported claim and final bill amounting to Rs. 2,47,736/- has been raised against his connection as to the consumer No. 301642392. According to the petitioner, the same is frivolous, baseless, and amounts to gross illegality on the part of the respondent company.

2. The said notice dated 13.07.2026, is also challenged citing reason that a total amount of outstanding due to the tune of Rs. 2,66,766.31/- raised in respect of consumer ID number 303272165, which is a commercial connection of the petitioner also being false, frivolous, and unsupported by any cogent document.

3. In the present writ petition, the petitioner has sought for setting aside of the same impugned notice.

4. Learned advocates for the respective parties have appeared.

5. Learned advocate for the petitioner has submitted that the outstanding bill raised against the petitioner has already been paid by his client. Without considering that fact, the instant notice has been issued without any basis and only arbitrarily and illegally. He seeks that the notice be set aside by this Court.

6. Per contra, learned advocate for the respondent has raised challenge as to the maintainability of the present writ petition. On the basis of the documents annexed with the writ petition itself, that is, a dispute

raised by the petitioner before the Divisional Engineer (Electrical) and Regional Grievance Redressal Officer (RGRO), Murshidabad Regional Office, WBSEDCL. He submits that the petitioner has already moved before the statutory authority by filing his written application challenging the bill. Therefore, according to the learned advocate, the petitioner cannot maintain the present writ petition with the self-same cause of action.

7. On merits, the learned advocate for the respondent has submitted that the petitioner is legally obliged to pay the outstanding bill in order to retain the electricity connection.

8. Having perused the record and having heard the learned respective advocates for the parties, the Court is of the considered opinion that the petitioner has challenged the impugned proposed outstanding bill amount as regards the two connections of him, which according to him are only frivolous. Also that the petitioner has already submitted the claim of outstanding bill to the tune of Rs. 38,000/- as made earlier by the respondent company.

9. This challenge of the petitioner as to the proposed outstanding bill amount has been taken by him to the statutory authority for its consideration. It is therefore necessary, before this Court intervenes in exercise of its power of judicial review as to the said order against the petitioner, that the statutory authority duly considers the petitioner's

representation filed before it, in accordance with law.

10. Hence, let this writ petition be disposed of with a direction to the respondent/ Divisional Engineer (Electrical) and Regional Grievance Redressal Officer (RGRO), Murshidabad Regional Office, WBSEDCL to consider the petitioner's representation, by dint of a reasoned order and after affording a reasonable opportunity of hearing to him, within a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of communication of this order. Till then, let not any coercive steps be taken by the respondent authority towards disconnection of the petitioner's electricity line due to non-submission of the amount of outstanding bills as proposed by the said company in the impugned order dated 13.07.2026.

11. Let it be mentioned further that the petitioner shall be liable to pay the normal electricity charges for his consumption during the period upon resumption of connection, and default therein if any, shall enable the respondent company to take appropriate action against him in accordance with law.

12. Writ petition No. WPA 29655 of 2026 is disposed of.

13. Urgent certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance with all requisite formalities.

(Rai Chattopadhyay, J.)