Gurugram : In a significant relief for nearly 800 families residing in Suncity Avenue, Sector 102, a Civil Court in Gurugram has restrained the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) from disconnecting electricity supply to the residential society over a disputed commercial electricity demand of Rs 97 lakh.
The interim order was passed on Tuesday on a petition filed by the Residents Welfare Association (RWA) in July 2026 after the power utility sought recovery of the disputed amount by clubbing it with the society’s regular electricity bill.
While granting interim protection, the court observed that the alleged dues stemmed from a dispute between DHBVN and the project developer, Suncity Projects Private Limited, and that no material had been placed on record to establish liability on the part of the RWA or the residential consumers.
The court underscored the importance of uninterrupted electricity supply, recognising it as an essential service protected under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
“Electricity is an essential service and the right to access electricity has been recognised by the Hon’ble Supreme Court as an important facet of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution,” the court noted in its order.
The court further observed that disconnecting power at this stage could have immediate and serious consequences for hundreds of families, while the dispute regarding the alleged dues could be adjudicated separately in accordance with law.
Dispute Linked to Builder-Era Maintenance Period
The disputed demand relates to the mandatory five-year maintenance period (2019–2024) during which Suncity Projects Pvt Ltd managed the affordable housing society developed under the Haryana Affordable Housing Policy, 2013.
According to the RWA, the controversy arose after a DHBVN vigilance team inspected the society’s commercial billing pattern in September 2025. Subsequently, in June 2026, the utility added the disputed Rs 97 lakh demand and penalty to the society’s regular electricity bill, taking the total payable amount to nearly Rs 1.17 crore.
Advocate Seema Nain, representing the RWA, said the discom refused to accept payment of the undisputed current electricity charges separately from the disputed historical demand.
“DHBVN pressed the panic button in June 2026 by clubbing the disputed Rs 97 lakh arrears and penalty with the monthly bill. The society was asked to clear nearly Rs 1.17 crore by the due date. Such a huge demand placed an entire residential community at risk,” she said.
She argued that while DHBVN is free to pursue recovery of disputed dues through legal means, it should continue accepting regular monthly electricity payments from residents.
“The electricity supply of an entire residential community should not be jeopardised because of a disputed historical demand,” she added.
RWA Raises Concerns Over Single Point Supply System
In its petition, the RWA also urged the court and authorities to examine the manner in which the Single Point Supply (SPS) mechanism is implemented in residential societies, particularly in situations where historical disputes involving builders or commercial components can threaten power supply to hundreds of households.
The association has sought intervention from senior government authorities to ensure that residents who are regularly paying their current electricity charges are not made collateral victims of disputes concerning past dues or builder-controlled operations.
No Power Backup Increases Residents’ Concerns
The issue assumes greater significance because Suncity Avenue, an affordable housing project, does not have diesel generator (DG) or alternative power backup for residential units.
Residents argued that any disruption in electricity supply would immediately affect children, senior citizens and individuals requiring medical support, making uninterrupted power supply critical for daily life.
The court acknowledged the potential hardship and clarified that its interim order is aimed at preventing immediate disruption while the dispute is examined on merits.
Matter Listed for October Hearing
The court has clarified that the interim relief does not amount to a final determination of liability and that the responsibility for the disputed dues will be decided after hearing all parties concerned.
The matter has now been listed for further hearing on October 8, 2026. For now, the order provides much-needed relief to hundreds of residents, ensuring that electricity supply to the society remains uninterrupted while the legal battle over the disputed ₹97 lakh demand continues.