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Right to Electricity is a Fundamental Right under Article 21: Madhya Pradesh High Court
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Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)
The Madhya Pradesh High Court held that the right to electricity is an integral part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court directed authorities to restore a temporary electricity connection to an occupier, emphasizing that essential services cannot be arbitrarily disconnected, especially when a person is residing on the premises.
Ratio Decidendi · Legal Principle Established
The right to electricity, being essential for human existence and dignity, falls within the ambit of the fundamental right to life and personal liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Disconnection of an essential service like electricity without due process, especially when a person is in occupation, infringes this fundamental right.