IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Letters Patent Appeal No.649 of 2025 In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.8919 of 2023 ======================================================

Chanda Sinha, Wife of Sri Anchit Kumar Sinha, resident of L.N. Singh Lane, Thakurbari, Mohalla- Sujapur, P.S. Nathnagar, District- Bhagalpur.

... ... Appellant/s Versus

1. The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Department of Energy, Government of Bihar, Patna.

2. The South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd, Vidyut Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna - 1, Bihar.

3. The Managing Director, South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd., Vidyut Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna - 1, Bihar.

4. The Chief Engineer (Commercial), South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd, Vidyut Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna - 1, Bihar.

5. Electrical Executive Engineer, Electric Supply Division (Urban), South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd, Bhagalpur.

6. Asst. Electrical Engineer, Electric Supply Division (Urban), South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd, Bhagalpur.

7. Add. Collector, cum Public Complaint Redressal Officer, Bhagalpur.

... ... Respondent/s ======================================================

Appearance :

For the Appellant/s : Mr. Vivekanand Vivek, Advocate Mr. Debesh Kr. Poddar, Advocate For the State : Mr. Yogendra Pd. Singh, AAG-7 Mr. Rajeev Kr. Sinha, AC to AAG-7 For SBPDCL : Mr. Vivek Prasad, Advocate Mr. Pratiyush Kumar, Advocate ======================================================

CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR SINGH

ORAL JUDGMENT

(Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE)

Date : 12-01-2026 This Letters Patent Appeal has been filed challenging the order dated 21.03.2025, passed by the learned Single Judge in CWJC No. 8919 of 2023.

The writ petition was filed by the present appellant seeking for following reliefs :-

"(i) For issuance of an appropriate writ/writs/order/orders/direction/directions commanding the respondents to direct the respondent authorities to connect the electric Supply of the petitioner bearing Consumer No-233303455907 forthwith which was illegally disconnected without any prior notice to the petitioner. (ii) For issuance of an appropriate writ/writs/order/orders/direction/directions commanding the respondents to quash the illegal demand of Rs. 8,64,950/ in pursuance to illegal Bill for the month of August 2020 as well as notice dated 1/3/2023 in Certificate Case No-35 of 2023 issued by the Certificate Officer, Bhagalpur contained in Annexure-7 Series of the application.

(iii) For issuance of an appropriate writ/writs/order/orders/direction/directions commanding the respondents to quash the order dated 19/10/2022 passed by the Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum, Bhagalpur registered as Complaint case No-48/2022 contained in Annexure- 9 of the application.

iv) For issuance of any appropriate writ/writs/order/orders/direction/directions to which the petitioner is entitled in accordance with law."

2. The notices were issued to the respondent No. 2 South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited and other respondents. The respondent No. 2 entered appearance and challenged the maintainability of the writ petition specifically stating that there was an earlier consumer whose name was Vibha Rani Sinha bearing connection No. 23330002512 in the very same premises where the petitioner had applied for a new connection and the said Vibha Rani Sinha had arrears to the tune of Rs. 6,89,836/- who is none else than the mother-in-law of the appellant. The appellant without disclosing that earlier connection was in the name of her mother-in-law applied for new connection and the connection was given and subsequently when it came to the notice of the authorities regarding the relationship between the appellant and Vibha Rani Sinha who has expired and that the appellant suppressed the material facts while submitting the application for a fresh connection, the outstanding dues which was in the name of late Vibha Rani Sinha was added to