Court upheld petitioner's right to challenge expense assessments under the Telegraph Act, directing statutory recourse for disputes.

JUDGMENT

The writ petition is filed with the following prayers.

“i) Call for the records.

ii) Issue a writ of Certiorari to quash Exhibit P5 dated 19.10.2013, Exhibit P7 dated 29.11.2013 and Exhibit P9 dated 06.03.2014 is as much as the petitioner is directed to remit the entire Expenses for shifting the Service Wire through the alternative feasible route suggested by the petitioner and agreed by the Respondents.

iii) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order of direction to Respondents 1 to 4 to effect shifting of Service wire from the present alignment to the alternative feasible route suggested by the petitioner and agreed by the Respondents.

iv) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction to the Respondents 1 to 4 to dispense with the remittance of expenses by the petitioner for shifting the Electricity Service wire and direct the 5^th Respondent or in the alternative KSEB to bear entire expenses for the said purpose.

v) Any other further relief or order as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper to meet the end of justice.

and vi) Award the cost of these proceedings.”

2. This Court had passed an order on 02.02.2026 as follows.

“The learned Standing Counsel for the Board is directed to get instructions on the expenses currently required, as the learned counsel for the petitioner submits that a post has already been installed, pending the writ petition. Post on 13.02.2026.”

3. Pursuant to the above, a memo has been filed by the Board producing a report after a site inspection on 05.02.2026, which states that a total amount of Rs.14,329/- is required for installing a support post. If the petitioner is aggrieved by the same and disputes the quantum, the only remedy is to approach the ADM under Section 17 (2) of the Telegraph Act .

4. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of, directing the petitioner to take recourse to Section 17 (2) of the Telegraph Act , in case he is not satisfied with the report and the amount computed by the Board.

The writ petition is disposed of as above.

Sd/-