Give power connectionwithin a month: HC

Holding that electricity connection is an integral part of the right to life, the Kerala High Court has held that it is the statutory duty of the Kerala State Electricity Board(KSEB) to supply electricity within one month after receipt of the application for power connection. Justice Murali Purushothaman ,while dismissing a petition by two KSEB engineers, observed, “Water and electricity are an integral part of the Right to life within the meaning of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Section 43 of the Electricity Act provides that there is a statutory duty on the distribution licensee to provide the electric connection to the applicants within one month after receipt of the application requiring such supply. The KSEB is the sole distribution licensee for electricity within the State and therefore the Board and its officials shall make every endeavour to provide electricity supply to applicants without any delay.”