Madras High Court
Ramamoorthy vs The Chairman on 12 January, 2026
Author: P.T. Asha
Bench: P.T. Asha
W.P.No.7385 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Dated : 12.01.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE Ms. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA
W.P.No. 7385 of 2025
&
W.M.P.No. 8250 of 2025
1. Ramamoorthy
2. Senniyappan ...Petitioners
Vs.
1.The Chairman,
Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TANGEDCO),
Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002
2. The Superintending Engineer,
Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TANGEDCO),
Coimbatore.
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W.P.No.7385 of 2025
3. The Executive Engineer,
Operation & Maintenance,
Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TANGEDCO),
Somanur,
Coimbatore District
4. The Assistant Engineer,
Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TANGEDCO),
Ayyankovil Division Office,
Pallapalayam. ...Respondents
Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Section 226 of the Constitution of
India for issue of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 1st respondent or any
other subordinates to restore the free Agriculture electricity motor
pump set connection SC No. 7 Ayyampalayam in the name of
Chinnamalai Gounder, where a representation was given on
29.07.2024.
For Petitioner : Mr. Krishnapriya R V
For Respondents : Mr. L.Jaivenkatesh
Standing Counsel
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W.P.No.7385 of 2025
ORDER
This writ petition is filed for the following relief:
“To direct the 1st respondent or any other subordinates to restore the free Agriculture electricity motor pump set connection SC No. 7 Ayyampalayam in the name of Chinnamalai Gounder, by considering the petitioners’ representation dated 29.07.2024.”
2. It is the case of the petitioners that one Chinnamalai Gounder, who is a grand father of the petitioners had obtained an electricity connection to the Well situate in SF.No.241, Samalapuram Village, Palladam Taluk, Tiruppur, on 07.11.1951 in SC No.7. The said Chinnamalai Gounder and his legal heirs were regularly paying electricity charges for using electricity for irrigating the land from the Well.
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3. The petitioner would submit that on account of drought, the legal heirs of the said Chinnamalai Gounder was not able to pay electricity charges on time and demand notice was sent to pay arrears of electricity charges till 21.09.1980. These arrears were paid on 28.02.1981, by the legal heirs of the Chinnamalai Gounder.
4. The petitioner would further submit that the service connection was being used by them without any hurdle. Meanwhile, the Government of Tamil Nadu through a Government Order had made all the agricultural electricity motor pump sets connection free of charges. The legal heirs of the said Chinnamalai Gounder were also the beneficiaries of the same and they had been irrigating lands using free electricity connection.
5. It is the case of the petitioners that on account of drought, the water table had gone down and the Well dried. Since the motor pump set was idle and was in disuse, the same had been stolen. Now the water level had increased in the Well and therefore the petitioners had 4/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 13/02/2026 04:15:52 pm ) W.P.No.7385 of 2025 requested the respondents to restore the electricity connection and several representations had been given to the respondents and the last of which was made on 29.07.2024. Since there is no response, the petitioners have come forward with this writ petition.
6. The 4th respondent had filed a counter affidavit inter alia contending that the said service connection had been disconnected as early as in the month of October 1983, itself. That apart, they would submit that the arrears of consumption charges were also not paid by the legal heirs of the said Chinnamalai Gounder and proceedings were initiated to collect the dues through other live service connections. Subsequently, the service connection granted was dismantled.
7. The 4th respondent would further submit that a notice was issued in the month of November 1980, under Section 24 (1) of the Indian Electricity Act, for non payment of dues amounting to a sum of Rs.3,610/-. Against this due, a sum of Rs.3372/- was paid leaving a balance of Rs.238/-. Therefore, the contention of the petitioners that they had paid the entire arrears is absolutely misleading. That apart, 5/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 13/02/2026 04:15:52 pm ) W.P.No.7385 of 2025 the consumption was only upto the month of October 1983.
8. The respondents would further submit that after the disconnection there was no request or application for re-connection from the owner or from the legal heirs till the year 2023. Now the petitioners claiming to be the legal heirs of the said Chinnamalai Gounder is seeking re-connection. The petitioners are the sons of one of the four sons of the said Chinnamalai Gounder.
9. The respondents would rely upon Regulation 22 (6) (1) and 22 (7) of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Supply Code, to state that where the service connection remains disconnected for more than 6 months for non payment of electricity charges and if the consumer comes forward within the period mentioned in the table therein, the authorities could grant extension of time beyond the notice period and revoke the termination provided the lines feeding the service connection have not been dismantled.
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10. If the consumer comes forward for re-connection after the period specified in Regulation 22 (6) (1), then the licensee can only be treated as a new applicant and supply will be affected after recovering charges applicable to the new connection, with all other arrears and belated charges. Therefore, the request of the petitioners cannot be granted as they do not have a legal right to demand mandamus.
11. Heard the learned counsels on either side and perused the records.
12. Admittedly, the service connection has been disconnected as early as in the year 1983. Even according to the petitioners, the petitioners have not produced any document whatsoever to show that they have demanded re-connection within a period stipulated in Regulation 22 (6) (1) and 22 (7) of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Supply Code. The request has been made only in the year 2024, which is nearly 4 decades after the disconnection.
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13. Therefore, in the light of the above regulation the respondents cannot renew the earlier connection and the petitioners’ application can only be treated as a new application.
14. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. It is needless to state that as and when a new application is received by the respondents the same shall be considered, as expeditiously as possible. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. No costs.
12.01.2026
Index : Yes/No
Internet : Yes/No
kan
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W.P.No.7385 of 2025
To
1.The Chairman,
Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TANGEDCO),
Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002
2. The Superintending Engineer,
Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TANGEDCO),
Coimbatore.
3. The Executive Engineer,
Operation & Maintenance,
Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TANGEDCO),
Somanur,
Coimbatore District
4. The Assistant Engineer,
Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TANGEDCO),
Ayyankovil Division Office,
Pallapalayam.
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W.P.No.7385 of 2025
P.T. ASHA, J
kan
W.P.No.7385 of 2025
12.01.2026
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