The defendants in O.S. No. 379 of 1996 on the file of the learned Additional District Munsif, Tuticorin, are the appellants in this second appeal. The Plaintiff/respondent herein has filed the suit for a declaration to declare that the show cause notice dated 26.09.1994 issued by the appellants is null and void and for a consequential injunction restraining the appellants or their men from in any manner disconnecting the high tension electricity service connection provided to them bearing HTSC No.71. The suit was dismissed and the appeal filed by the respondent thereagainst was allowed by the first appellate Court, hence, the present second appeal has been filed by the appellants/ electricity Board.

2. For the sake of convenience, the parties shall be referred to as per their litigative status in the suit as 'plaintiff' and 'defendants' respectively.

3. The plaintiff filed the suit contending that they are the consumers of high tension energy supplied by the defendants bearing HTSC No.71. According to the plaintiff, the defendants used to carry out an inspection on 27th of every month and note down the meter reading. Such meter reading taken by the defendants up to August 199