Madhya Pradesh High Court holds the right to electricity is part of the right to life under Article 21

15 October 2026

Justice Milind Ramesh Phadke of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Gwalior Bench, held that electricity is essential in modern life, so the right to electricity is part of the right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. The petitioner in Preeti Sharma v. State of Madhya Pradesh, WP-17709-2026, had a temporary domestic connection at her Gwalior house that was disconnected on 27 August 2025 after a complaint by her mother, a respondent in the case. The Court held that she has a right to a connection as an occupier under Section 43 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and that distribution authorities need not decide title, partition or disputes between co-owners while processing a connection application. The respondents were directed to release the connection within seven days, subject to her complying with other norms, and the observations apply only while she remains in possession. The case is reported as 2026 LiveLaw (MP) 417.