No pay, no lights? Orissa High Court slams ‘illegal’ power cut in man’s house by villagers over Rs 5,000 Durga Puja chanda
The Orissa High Court was hearing a plea filed by a man seeking a direction to the police authorities to provide police protection to electricity officials for restoring power supply to his house.
The court noted that villagers had “neither any right nor authority” to prevent reconnection, said the Orissa High Court. (Image generated using AI)
Orissa High Court news: In an incident where the electricity supply to a man’s house was cut by the locals in his village for the non-payment of Rs 5,000 towards chanda or donations during the Durga Puja festival, the Orissa High Court has come down heavily on the villagers and directed the local police for its restoration.
Justice Savitri Ratho was hearing a plea filed by one Daitary Sahu seeking a direction to the police authorities to provide police protection to electricity officials for restoring power supply to his house when she ordered on March 20, “Electricity is a basic amenity. It cannot be denied to the petitioner. The obstruction of the villagers to the officials of the TPNODL on the ground of non-payment of “Chanda” is per se illegal.”
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Orissa High Court said that the villagers are preventing reconnection of the electricity line to the house of the petitioner without any justification. (Image enhanced using AI)
Court’s take: Neither right nor authority to do so
The high court cut through the impasse with a clear message- social pressure cannot override basic rights.
The court noted that villagers had “neither any right nor authority” to prevent reconnection, effectively calling out what appeared to be an extra-legal enforcement of community dues.
It is apparent that the villagers are preventing reconnection of the electricity line to the house of the petitioner but apparently without any justification.
They neither have any right nor authority to do so.
Orissa HC: "Chanda or Darkness" Is NOT the Law — Blocking Electricity for Puja Donation Is Per Se Illegal
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Electricity is a basic amenity — it cannot be denied because someone refused to pay a festival donation
Justice Savitri Ratho, Orissa High Court — March 20, 2026
Three Legal Rulings from This Case
⚖️ What Orissa HC Established — March 20, 2026
1
Blocking electricity reconnection to enforce chanda payment is "per se illegal"
The obstruction of TPNODL officials on the ground of non-payment of "Chanda" is per se illegal — no festive occasion, social norm or community practice can justify it
2
Villagers have "neither right nor authority" to prevent reconnection
Social pressure — however organised or sustained — cannot override a citizen's basic legal right to electricity; blocking state utility officials is an extra-legal act
3
Electricity is a basic amenity — state must ensure access regardless of community disputes
Courts have repeatedly upheld electricity access as connected to the right to life under Article 21 — it cannot be held hostage to informal village enforcement systems
The Broader Pattern — Village Collective Punishment
⚠️ What This Case Signals — Beyond One Household
What Happened Here
Village collectively cut power to one home and repeatedly blocked reconnection — used as leverage to enforce Rs 5,000 festival donation
Why It Matters
HC's ruling signals courts will treat informal community enforcement of donations — especially through deprivation of utilities — as illegal coercion
Who Was Targeted
Daitary Sahu — whose government-built Indira Awas Yojana home was left without power for over 2 years as collective punishment
The Precedent
No matter how festive the occasion — "pay up or stay in the dark" is not the law; social coercion through utility denial is illegal
SP Balasore's Orders — Restore Power in 2 Weeks
🚔 HC Directions to Superintendent of Police, Balasore
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Deploy adequate police force including women police for restoration of electricity connection within 2 weeks of receiving the order
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Option to first take steps for amicable resolution between Sahu and villagers — as the petitioner must continue living in the village among them
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If amicable resolution fails — force must be deployed to ensure TPNODL officials can restore the connection without obstruction
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Separate writ petition seeking direct restoration orders listed for further hearing on March 30, 2026
"Electricity is a basic amenity. It cannot be denied to the petitioner. The obstruction of the villagers to the officials of the TPNODL on the ground of non-payment of 'Chanda' is per se illegal."
— Justice Savitri Ratho, Orissa High Court, March 20, 2026
⚖️ HC: Villagers are preventing reconnection "apparently without any justification" — they have neither right nor authority to do so
The superintendent of police, Balasore is directed to deploy adequate police force including women police for restoration of the electricity connection to the house of the petitioner within a period of two weeks from receipt of this order.
It is open to the SP to first take steps for amicably resolving the dispute between the petitioner and the villagers as the petitioner has to stay in the village amongst the villagers.
From festive collection to forced blackout
For over two years, Daitary Sahu’s home in Balasore, built under the Indira Awas Yojana remained without electricity, not because of unpaid bills, but because he refused to contribute to a local Puja fund.
The power supply was allegedly snapped on October 28, 2023, after Sahu declined to pay the demanded Rs 5,000.
What followed was a prolonged standoff between state authorities trying to restore supply and villagers determined to block it.
Officials vs Villagers: Reconnection attempts foiled
The case file reads like a logbook of failed rescue missions.
September 30, 2024: Sahu applies for reconnection
February 24, 2025: Orissa High Court directs authorities to consider his plea.
Letter of the superintending engineer, JED Jaleswar to the petitioner revealed what they had to face in the village.
Neither you nor family members came forward to support us or the police personnel.
We are conscious that power supply is a basic need and fundamental right of the citizens and have taken necessary steps for reconnection of power supply.
When we found that the law and order situation would deteriorate and there was a strong possibility of violence against our official and police personnel, we had to leave the spot.
We would like to inform that after receipt of the your complaint regarding reconnection of power supply (after October 28, 2023), our department people had visited to the spot with an intention to reconnect the power supply, but at each time due to opposition from the villagers, the power supply could not be restored.
On February 18, the officials of the department visited the spot along with police personnel to reconnect the power supply, but the villagers, particularly women folks have obstructed vehemently, so we are unable to reconnect the power supply to the premises of the petitioner.
It never daunted our spirit and we continued in our effort, but we failed in each our attempt due to opposition from the villagers
Even after the receipt of the order from the high court our officials have attempted to restore the power supply again we face severe opposition from the villagers.
On April 21, 2025 and May 3, 20205, the officials from the department concerned visited the village, met the villagers.
They had a detailed discussion with the village residents regarding reconnection of power supply, but the villagers did not cooperate with the department and held strong protests.
Finally, finding no other alternative the officials requested the police department to provide police assistance for restoration of power supply to the premises of the petitioner.
On May 7, 20205 the police personnel along with our staff moved to the spot but returned without any action due to strong protest and obstruction from the villagers.
Our department had made a valiant attempt and tried their best to reconnect the power supply even in the presence of police personnel but due to severe protest the connection couldn’t be provided.
We have even taken the video clip of the entire act.
Please take note that we have taken best/sufficient steps to reconnect the power supply but due to strong opposition from villagers and non-co-operation from your end, we are unable to provide the power supply.
Considering the same, your representation is disposed of.
Rs 190 paid, but power still denied
Ironically, Sahu had already deposited Rs 190 as reconnection charges, yet remained in the dark, not due to bureaucracy, but social coercion.
Advocate Arjuna Charana Behera, counsel for the petitioner submitted that the Sahu has already deposited Rs 190 towards reconnection charges of his electricity line.
The counsel informed the court that the house, in question has been built under the ‘Indira Awas Yojana’ but on account of the obstruction by the villagers as he was not unable to pay the Chanda during Durga Puja, some of the villagers are not allowing restoration of electricity connection to his house.
Another round of litigation pending
The dispute isn’t entirely over.
A separate writ petition filed by Sahu seeking direct restoration orders is slated for hearing on March 30, 2026.
Why this case matters
This isn’t just about one household’s electricity.
The ruling sends a sharp signal against informal village enforcement systems that override legal rights.
In effect, the high court has drawn a firm line.
No matter how festive the occasion, pay up or stay in the dark is not the law of the land.
The court noted that villagers had “neither any right nor authority” to prevent reconnection, said the Orissa High Court. (Image generated using AI) 
Orissa High Court said that the villagers are preventing reconnection of the electricity line to the house of the petitioner without any justification. (Image enhanced using AI)
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