Property owners are entitled to seek independent electricity connections for their premises, and utility providers must adjudicate applications transparently by providing notice and an opportunity to be heard to all affected parties, rather than summarily denying the connection due to third-party objections.

JUDGMENT

The petitioner states that he is the owner of two shop rooms in a shopping complex situated in Division No.67 of the Kochi Corporation. He submits that the said rooms, along with four adjacent rooms owned by his siblings, are presently provided with electricity supply under a single consumer number standing in the name of his brother. According to the petitioner, he is now on strained terms with his brother and, following disputes between them, the latter disconnected the electricity supply to the petitioner’s premises.

2. The petitioner thereafter submitted Ext.P4 application seeking separate electricity connections for his shop rooms and remitted the prescribed fees. However, the 1^st respondent expressed inability to provide the connections on the ground that the 2^nd respondent, who owns the majority of the rooms in the shopping complex, has refused to permit the installation of the meters required for providing separate electricity connections to the petitioner’s premises.

3. It is in the above circumstances that the petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking the following relief:-

“To issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, commanding the 1^st respondent to forthwith grant electricity connection to the petitioner’s building covered by Ext.P1 and Ext.P2 receipts.”

4. Heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel for the 1^st respondent. In the nature of the order I propose to pass, notice to the 2^nd respondent is dispensed with.

In the facts and circumstances of the case, there will be a direction to the 1^st respondent to consider Ext.P4 application of the petitioner, in accordance with law, with notice to him and the 2^nd respondent, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment.