Authority: High Court at Calcutta, Civil Appellate Jurisdiction, Appellate Side (Judges Shampa Sarkar, J.; Smita Das De, J.)

Order Date: 08 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Appellants – Sudhir Kumar Patra & Ors.; Respondent – West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) & Ors.
  • The appeal challenged an order dated 23 June 2026 (W.P.A. 13186 of 2026) wherein the learned single judge dismissed the writ petition and refused the appellants' prayer for instalment payment of dues.
  • The appellants argued that Swapna Rani Patra had already paid Rs 82,596.71 against her commercial connection, and sought restoration of supply.
  • The court considered the payment made by Swapna Rani Patra and the outstanding dues of Sudhir Patra and his son Pritam Patra, who hold agricultural connections.

Directions Issued

1. The impugned order is set aside.

2. Swapna Rani Patra’s commercial connection shall be restored within 48 hours upon payment of Rs 6,951.01 (LPSC) and applicable reconnection charges.

3. Sudhir Patra and Pritam Patra must each pay Rs 50,000 against their individual agricultural connections and the reconnection charges; only upon receipt of both payments will supply be restored.

4. The remaining dues for Sudhir Patra and Pritam Patra shall be paid in four equal monthly instalments. WBSEDCL shall issue a separate bill to each consumer indicating the month and date of each instalment.

5. Upon reconnection, the appellants must continue paying regular monthly electricity bills.

6. In case of default on any instalment or on the regular monthly charges, WBSEDCL is authorized to disconnect the supply.

7. The appeal and the connected application are disposed of.

8. An urgent photostat certified copy of the order, if applied for, shall be provided to the parties upon usual undertakings.

Final Outcome

  • The High Court set aside the earlier dismissal order, mandated payment and instalment schedules, and directed WBSEDCL to restore electricity supply to the commercial and agricultural connections of the Patra family subject to compliance with the specified payment conditions.

Topics: Electricity Supply, Legal Order