High Court Karnataka High Court

M/S.Carpenters Classic Exim (P) … vs The Assistant Executive Engineer on 18 October, 2010

Karnataka High Court
M/S.Carpenters Classic Exim (P) … vs The Assistant Executive Engineer on 18 October, 2010
Author: S.Abdul Nazeer
1 W.P.181-44/2010

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALQRE;-<.o'j%e~~.oVv

DATED THIS THE 18?" DAY ore' OCTOBER 2Qro  if    

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MRJUSTICE s..4BD£iL ..m21$'ER e x f' * T

WRIT PETITION N0.I83}14;f2010 _'(G1|V'/I-KEr':'V)"A  A    
BETWEEN:

M/s.Carpenters Classic Exim (P')'Ltde., *   Z
A Company incorporated under the"  vv A
Companies Act, 1956 haVi._ngitf~;A   _  - 
Registered office at?SIo.«i;2.T1'4, 1'?' Freer,  _  

Bangaiore    
Represented by its ' _ V  _   
Director Sri.Ra ej Kamm.biahA§' _  " V ...Petitioner

100 Feet   ifiVdiranagar~,VVV-- 

:_.~(By_Sri..S_}i?.Srrank_ar, sr§'Ad--~.e, for Sri.K.S.Harish, Adv.,)

Assogf»   * '

 V1. "The'AsSisfant:Executive Engineer,

((:..__0 &.'M.),}E-6, Sub--Division,
.V BESCOM, Indiranagar,
 AA Bangaiore -- 560 038.



2 W.P.l8'f44/2010

2. Mrs.Padmarnal.ini G.Rao,
W/o Mr.G.Venl<atesh Rae,
Major, R/a No. 1214,

1" Floor, .100 Feet Road,
HAL ll Stage, Endiranagar,

Bangalore --~ 560 008. ...Responden,ts'   i

(By Sri.N.K.Gupta, AdV., for R1;
R2 ---- Served, unrepresented)

This Writ Petition is filed under_..jiV\irti_clesV 220'  the
Constitution of India praying toquash the endorsement issued by the

respondent dated 04.05.2010 per"A1in.exitre§4}'E"';   

This petition coming: on for’preii.inina,ry_ ‘B’ Group,

this day, the Court made’t:he’ ‘fo11’owi:_1i_;;:~£ AV

The secio1idiirespo’ndent’ ‘owner of immovable property
bearing l\to.’i”2l’4, .,V_l3e’et HAL 2″” Stage, Indiranagar,
fwd/iiiitienements. The petitioner is a tenant in

respect,_o’f__one*the,ppreiniises in the said property. The petitioner has

iV’,;–piVpiro_duced acopayiof lease deed executed by the 2″” respondent in

,ihi.s”‘faviouir_ at°’Annexure ‘A’. The second respondent is also in

‘0 ‘-.V_iioccpu.pat.ion of one of the premises in the said building. The electricity

gnetefih respect of the premises in occupation of the petitioner is

3 w.P.ls144/2010

located within the premises in occupation of the second respondent.

The meter box is locked and the keys are kept with

respondent. For the purpose of noting the meter reaidings*-.:arld

preparing the monthly bill, the metering staff of the

go over to the rear side of the building, which is.Vexclusiyfe1y-within”. if

the control and possession of the secon’dvs.respondent..it of
the petitioner that the differences Directorifof the
petitionencornpany and the second resulted in
filing of a suit for V..o__fiflthe premises in

occupation of theiipetitronerfiin» on the file of the

City Civil Judge,_ Mayohallvi’«Ban.gaiore.. Can account of the differences
as above, the second responde’n,tuprevented access to the meter board

located w:2;thin,herihouse.f’ It is further contended that the second

respondent nranagedto get the electricity supply disconnected to the

petitiionerfs. preinisesll’r;”JVheneVer the staff of the petitioner-company

rvent to the in occupation of the second respondent to check

.»electrrcit3t_p_supply or for inspection of the connection, she started

of criminal trespass on to her property. She has filed

‘ c’rinfina1 complaints against the Directors of the petitionerwcotnpany

is

9′

4 W.F’.f814-M2010

on frivolous grounds. It is further contended that the second

respondent went to the extent of approaching the Passport Ql7fi_cer: ” .

to renew the passport of its Director Sri Ravi Karurnhaiah his 3

travel outside India. The Director of the petitionergciompanyhi 1~.aaito’__

approach this Court in W.P.No.224,4_6/200i9~.Aan.d got,i.–‘V.a.iA.wtit V

tnandarnus issued to the Passport Officer’s»tio’r» renewal.i_ofif’
The criminal cases filed thevvipetiitionen
company are still pending beforev”the The said
proceedings have be’en”‘Asgtayed:3._ Court. The
relationship between respondent has
become so ‘vj1,_hatV_.i::€the respondent having illegally
disconnected tlieyeliectricity premises of the petitioner, is

not allowjrfg igtispplyiof electricity to be restored. On 2.2.2010, the first

i’respo’rid.ent sentia _l_etter at Annexure ‘C’ to the petitioner expressing

theiri”ina’e’i_lity”‘to’restore”power supply the owner has prevented the

staff of ithe v–BES£’lOM to restore power supply. Therefore, the

“petitione.r__is cornpelled to arrange for supply of electricity through

‘2 generatoras an alternative mode. On 28.4.2010, the petitioner sought

0 teniporary/alternative power supply with the BESCOM since

iii
E,
2

5 W.P.18144/2019

supply of electricity through generator .is very expensive. The

petitioner is facing a piquant situation of having been denied the

supply of electricity by the owner and mounting cost of altemagtive

supply of eiectricity. The BESCOM has sent a letter as per ”

‘E’ dated 4.5.2010 informing that temporary power supp1y_’cannot Z

arranged to the premises in its occupation» as pperithe F{egu:lations.ii.__gi’

Therefore, the petitioner has .»filed tiiis writdpetition 1 the

following reliefs:

“(a) Quash by a writ of ciertivorari. or any’.othe1¥io–r”der or

directjllonwin theuendorsement issued
by thé”rfiépondefit:’.?58%1fiI1g’–No,AEE/E6SC/AECTS/F»
9/91 dated 4_4.5.?,0lVO_as’.per.i§.11nexure ‘E’.

‘i V. – lssizee a “writ of inandyamus directing the respondent
grant.:_an.ialtera.ative and direct electricity supply to
‘the»exclnsiyfewfnise of the petitioner by installing a
separate: ‘meter in the premises in occupation of

petitioner.

To pass any other appropriate relief. And

it

a’

5 W.P.18t44/2010

(d) Award the costs of this writ petition.”

2. Though the second respondent is served, she has;§i_’reni’ai’rf1’ed _

unrepresented.

3. Sri.S.P.Shankar, learned Senior Ady’o_cate.appear’i’ng”for it

petitioner would contend that since themrizeter of” is
situated within the premises in ‘jo<':.(;upati'oin-second' respondent,
the first respondent is not in a posiition supply to
the petitioner's is account of non-

supply of electricity, the’peitiitionerisputto great hardship and loss. It

is further argue-:1″ thatvh-ayingi”rehgard “to the amendment to the

‘Conditions of Siupplyot’ of the Distribution Licensees in

the State Kar’nataka'”,”-wh_ic_hhas come into force with effect from

2G..3.2Q(}8,Vti1eVpetitioner is entitled for aw separate connection and

vinstallationwtof aiseparagte meter in its premises.

4. Learned Advocate appearing for the first respondent submits

5._i_'”that«theVt’irs~t. respondent is ready to provide electricity to the premises

‘ petitioner, if it is permissible in law.

it

./

7 W.P.18144/2010

5. it is clear from the materials on record. that the peititeii{)nej<« is a

tenant of the aforesaid premises under the sec'ondTfg:sponid~e1i't._ lt is

in dispute that the meter of the petitioneris…preniises_ is sVitiaatAed'witl':'l;n
the premises in occupation of the second–reisp0nd~ent. ."iFh'ati_S the
first respondent has issued an as per
Annexure 'E' dated.v4._5:;2.__0lO power supply
cannot be arrange€d«'td"i.ts A i

6. ofiiiSHuipply of Electricity Supply
of DistributionLicensesVlfoeshor’t_:iEiSupply Regulations’) in the State

of Karnat.algav provides. for the general procedure for arranging power

of 4.02 of the Supply Regulations states

that power from” only one source should be provided to the

li”ipremises”‘o_f the ‘applicant. The said Regulation has been amended by

.._l.i’i.:rioti:fieati0n ..l\Eo’.KERC/COS/D/07/08 dated 14.3.2008, which has

force on 20.3.2008. The amended Regulation is as under:

3
2
3

‘mi

5.

8 W.P.18144/2010

Sl.No. Clause No. As amended

1 402(4) Power supply to building/premises. * V

HT or Land Tribunal or combipn’atioi;._i.of
HT & Land Tribu_nal.__t’hrough “separate
distinct service mains _can he ‘1a1’ra_nge=:1_;”

a common isolation point. The. service 1
main cables sha,_ll”‘have distincst ‘idevntityand
separation. Meteriirig arrangements shall
be at the ground–floor only. Power supply
to diff’c.1je’n.t types of “eo._nsu’rn_ers in building!
premises’ can be_a:rrangeti_ through separate
V\/Ls having’ c.omr_nc:n isolvatio’n–.p’oint.

4.:Wh_ile ;_doing”‘so,_the*Licen’:;ee shall obtain
_ pupnidertakingil .from*——the Consumer!
~ VCvon’;;umers_ for ensuring’ safety arising out
of provitiing., inipply to that premises

“”” I thi:5O’/”git-diffe1″ent’rse-rvices.

7. It is evident’ tl1at._ _before_tlie__ amendment of the above clause,

power should bepsuipplierl t”e.iA’th.e.’p_re’mises of an applicant from only

one souprc:§§e.i’ The aiiiendmenit states that power supply to the

buildinglprerniises.yéthrough separate distinct mains can be arranged

from” s’in_gle”souvrce~,vvith the provision of a common isolation point.

Thus, after the amendment, there is no bar for supply of electricity

througl1*d.i_stinct service mains.

from a single sourcefivvith the pitovision :7.’

9 W.P.18144/2010

8. Clause No.5 of the lease deed at Annexure ‘A’ states

petitioner is entitled for supply of electricity and that he has :toi[‘t’lae .

charges as per the meter reading raised by__the._cornpetent

Clause No.6 of the lease deed imposes a condition’ the”pe’tition:ie–r{i7]A

company to maintain the electrical,
fittings in the leased premises in good peer-nli’tion;~..1§lo material been
produced to show that the secionid. petitioner has
failed to maintain electrical On the other

hand, second re5:poriden’t”liasV prey.e’ntedi_ s’u_pp_ly of electricity to the

premises under the iocenpatiion’«of”th_e petitioner. After the amendment,

there is no irnpediiment t’orfthe*«–._first respondent to give a separate

connection tothe premises under the occupation of the petitioner. It is

in Vtrue trhatiif tlielexijisting meter bearing No.AEI-1.37452 of the premises

in bearing No. .1214 (front portion) .100 Feet

Road, HAL 2″ (Stage, Indiranagar, Bangalore, is not disconnected, the

u”‘Aip’etitiAoner may be saddled with fixed charges unnecessarily.

._’l”;hei=efiore, it is just and proper for the first respondent to disconnect

” the’ existing installation.

M,,..,u._._.,,,,

10 W.P.18144/2010

9. Supply of electricity is an essential amenity

enjoyment of the tenanted premises. The 2′” respondentphas illegaéllyii

“st

prevented the supply of electricity to the

respondent has informed the petirtioner in i’Annex1.1re…v°C”,

helplessness to restore power supplyiu””l=lowe_yer,Ctlaisui is not
helpless to direct restoration open for
this Court to pass suchorder and equity
projects. Article ofi’Vl’ndia’iibeing couched in
comprehensive wide powers on this
Court to reach is found. Power to do complete
justice inheres speak of a Court of plenary

jurisdiction like a High _(:oLm:. V’
.. 4, _ lv.Q_.”i~In;p_trlA1e light of tlieabove discussions, I pass the following:

ORDER

i(i)CThe_firstp_ respondent is directed to disconnect the existing

.. €}ec.tricity meter No.AEl~l 37452 of the petitioner’s premises subject

to Vipaymehl of fixed charges till the date of disconnection.

{

11 W.P.18144!201O

(ii) The first respondent is further directed to provide sep:irate

eiectricity connection to the premises in occupation of the..~petiptio_dneI’

subject to payment of the prescribed fee and making an it

accordance with iaw.

(iii) The first respondent is directed to giye”connectionVivwithdutid”

reference to the iandiord within a period’ four weeknditrom the date
of receipt of a copy of this order;

(iv) Writ Petitionestands Adiqpihosed of eccordingi;3″.” No costs.

dh/B MM/–