PARMINDER SINGH SANDHU Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN this writ petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, prayer made is P.3) quashing the letter dated 29.10.1999 (Annexure P.3) whereby Respondent No. 3 namely, the Deputy Commissioner, Patiala (for short the D.C. Patiala) has directed Respondent No. 4 namely, Punjab State Electricity Board, Patiala (for short 'the Board') not to issue electric connection to the Petitioner.

(2.) THE case of the Petitioner is that land in possession of the Petitioner belonged to Dera Bir Kheri Gujran, Tehsil and District Patiala (for short the Dera) which is being managed by its Mahant. The said Dera is religious and charitable institution. According to the Petitioner, Mahant of the Dera, after obtaining permission from the appropriate authority, has given land on lease and Lease Deed dated 2.6.1998 for a period of 99 years has been got registered in favour of the Petitioner. Further, according to the Petitioner, he applied for electricity connection but his application has been rejected by the Board because of letter dated 29.10.1999 of the D.C., Patiala, whereby the Board has been directed not to issue any electricity connection to the residents of the colony being constructed in Dera. Petitioner has averred that the act of the D.C. Patiala directing the Board not to issue electricity connection to the Petitioner is clearly arbitrary. According to the Petitioner, the D.C. Patiala has no authority to regulate the supply of electricity.

(3.) I have gone through the record and heard the Learned Counsel for the parties at length.