The court directed the restoration of drinking water supply from a Grampanchayath borewell to the petitioner, contingent upon the payment of outstanding electricity dues.

ORDER :

This Writ Petition, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is filed seeking the following relief:

“….to declare the action of the respondent No.5 is high handedly stopped supply of Drinking water from Grampanchayath Borewell since 20 days in Ramapalli Village, Peddapally Mandal and District as illegal, arbitrary, against the principles of natural justice and violation of Article 14 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to supply of Drinking water from Grampanchayath Bowerwell in Ramapalli village, Peddapally Mandal and District and to pass...”

Heard Mr. Praveen Bonkuri, learned counsel for the petitioner; Sri Ashok Kumar, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj appearing for respondent Nos.1 to 4 and Sri K.Pradeep Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for ZPP and MPP appearing for respondent No.5; and perused the record.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is the absolute owner and possessor of a house bearing No. 4-78, situated at Rampalli Village, Pedapally Mandal and District. The petitioner has been receiving drinking water for the past two decades from a borewell. However, all of a sudden, respondent No.5 stopped the supply of drinking water from the said borewell without assigning any valid reasons. Upon noticing the same, the petitioner approached respondent No.5 to ascertain the reason for such stoppage. Respondent No.5 informed the petitioner that certain persons were required to make payment towards water supply to the Gram Panchayath. It is submitted that petitioner is regularly paying all taxes to the Gram Panchayath and apprised respondent No.5 of the same. Despite this, respondent No.5 refused to restore the supply of drinking water.

Learned Standing Counsel for respondent No.5, upon placing reliance on the letter dated 16.04.2026 addressed by the Panchayath Secretary, Rampalli, submits that the Gram Panchayath is supplying drinking water to the entire village under the Mission Bhageeratha Scheme twice a day (i.e., morning and evening). It is further submitted that the grievance raised by the petitioner does not pertain to non-supply of drinking water. Rather, the issue relates to outstanding electricity dues payable in respect of the borewell connection. Due to non-payment of the said dues, the water supply through the borewell has been temporarily stopped. The Gram Panchayath will restore the same upon payment of the entire outstanding amount.

Having heard the submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home, and without entering into the merits of the case, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No. 5/Gram Panchayath to restore the supply of borewell water to the petitioner, subject to the petitioner clearing the outstanding electricity dues. No order as to costs.

As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending, shall stand closed.