Community › Forums › Legal Advice India › Society threatening to disconnect power supply over non payment of maintenance dues
- This topic has 12 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 3 months ago by
Wisehawk7332.
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UUser_764fc322
PARTICIPANT
February 28, 2025 at 3:30 amHi, I’ve been unemployed for quite sometime now and have been finding it difficult to secure a job.
I have been paying my monthly electricity bills, however, I’m lagging behind on the payment of the monthly society maintenance payment.
I’ve been paying them some amount every month, but have a backlog of about 5 months pending. The society is in the outskirts of South Bangalore.
They disconnect my power supply every other month and ask me to pay up. In February also they took off the fuse. After speaking with them they have told me to clear my outstanding dues by 10th March and asked me to send an email that I’ll do it. Only after that they restored the power supply.
I’ve applied for PF withdrawal so that I can make the payment, but the process is very time consuming and I’m afraid I’ll not be able to complete the payment to them by 10th March.
Is it legal for them to disconnect electric supply when I’ve been paying by electric bills, and also contributing some amount every month towards maintenance?
Any advice would be appreciated on what my options are. Thank you. -
WWisehawk7332
PARTICIPANT
February 28, 2025 at 4:33 amhttps://www.livelaw.in/high-court/telangana-high-court/telangana-high-court-upholds-apartment-associations-right-to-disconnect-water-and-electricity-maintenance-charges-payment-251131Legal in Telangana for gated communities and upheld by court. You need to check your local laws.
Besides,in many gated communities, you don’t have electricity connection from grid. You may be using a common connection and infrastructure of the community to get power to your flat.
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UUser_764fc322
OP
February 28, 2025 at 4:48 amBut I get a separate power bill every month. It’s not included in the maintainance. Anyone who’s aware about these kind of issues in Karnataka? Thank you.-
MMegamaster2414
PARTICIPANT
February 28, 2025 at 5:54 amSeparate power bill goes not mean you are not using the community infrastructure. -
WWisehawk7332
PARTICIPANT
February 28, 2025 at 6:45 amYou will get a separate bill even if you have a common HT line with individual metering.In any case, regardless of the setup, you will still be utilising society infra. For example, the society is responsible for the maintenance of cables, transformers/sub-station installed for the community. When the HT cables for our society were cut due to municipality work outside my gated community, the society had to pay 2 Lakh from its funds to the Electricity board for repairs.
Non payment of maintenance impacts all residents. A few years ago, due to non clearance of maintenance dues by few people in my gated community led to default on various dues including for electricity bill of the common amenities (lights, lift etc) which resulted in electricity disconnection for the entire community. Paying residents had to pool money to clear the dues and get the power supply restored. It also affects maintenance of other amenities as well.
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UUser_764fc322
OP
February 28, 2025 at 7:34 amYes, I’m trying my best to clear the pending dues. I’m not willfully withholding my payments. Unfortunately in dire circumstances. -
PPuneetknight613
PARTICIPANT
February 28, 2025 at 10:02 amSociety paying for cable repair when it was municipality’s fault??-
WWisehawk7332
PARTICIPANT
February 28, 2025 at 10:16 amYep. EB doen’t care who caused the damage. The society has to pay for the repairs. It’s upto the society to recover the cost from municipality if they can.
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BBrightwolf5745
PARTICIPANT
February 28, 2025 at 6:54 amWhether they can cut power supply or water depends on the statute prevailing in your state. Consult a lawyer or read up the apartment ownership act that karnataka would have.-
UUser_764fc322
OP
February 28, 2025 at 7:34 amThanks.
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LLavanyabro181
PARTICIPANT
February 28, 2025 at 10:12 am -
AAlphasmriti6948
PARTICIPANT
March 1, 2025 at 2:54 amno it’s not legal in Bengaluru, they can’t cut off basic needs like electricity and water, but they can skip giving u power back up in case of power cuts, clubhouse membership can also be blocked-
UUser_764fc322
OP
March 1, 2025 at 5:53 amYes, I’ve been trying to convince them, and I do understand the burden on other members. It’s not a high end gated community. They have disconnected power many times. There’s no power back up or club. I have my own UPS in case of power cuts. I’ve asked for time till the PF claim is processed so that I have sufficient funds to clear the dues, but that’s a different headache altogether. It is stuck since almost one month with no progress. Everywhere running into roadblocks.
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