D/L.26.

February 27, 2026.

KAUSHIK WPA No. 24627 of 2025 Md. Iftekar Vs.

CESC Ltd. & Anr.

Mr. Bidyut Kumar Halder Mr. Indranil Halder Ms. Neha Singh … for the petitioner.

Dr. Madhusudan Saha Roy Mr. Debanjan Chatterjee … for the CESC Limited.

The petitioner seeks reconnection of electricity.

The background facts culminating in the writ petition are that the CESC Ltd. had disconnected the electricity supply to the residence of the petitioner on the ground that there was theft of electricity. The outstanding dues in respect of the subject meter are in excess of Rs.3,30,585/-.

On behalf of petitioner, it is submitted that

50 per cent of the entire disputed amount had been deposited as a precondition for grant of anticipatory bail.

In such circumstances, Mr. Halder submits that the electricity should be immediately reconnected to the premises of the petitioner and the outstanding dues insofar as the balance amount is concerned should be referred to the Lok Adalat. He relies on Section 126 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

Dr. Saha Roy appearing on behalf of CESC Ltd. submits that there is no provision in law whereby a concession or discount or relaxation of the 50 per cent balance amount can be granted to the petitioner. He submits that there is no statutory appeal and the entire game plan of the petitioner is to delay and procrastinate payment of the balance amount.

On consideration of the submissions of the parties, there is no law which the petitioner has been able to rely on which would warrant relaxation of the 50 per cent outstanding dues to be paid. The petitioner has been found to be guilty of theft of electricity and has been granted bail subject to payment of 50 per cent of the disputed bill. There is no question of granting reconnection of electricity to the premises of the petitioner without making payment of the balance outstanding amount. There is no equity in favour of the petitioner. There is nothing which the petitioner has been able to demonstrate to suggest waiver or reduction of the balance amount of 50 per cent. In view of the above, there is no merit in the writ petition.

WPA 24627 of 2025 stands dismissed.

Liberty is granted to the petitioner to take appropriate steps in accordance with law.

(Ravi Krishan Kapur, J.)