Intra-court appellate courts will not disturb factual findings absent cogent grounds for interference.

An electricity meter was installed at the appellant’s premises in 2014 in the name of his late father.

After receiving a bill of approximately ₹1,42,173 in August 2015, the appellant sought correction and paid ₹200 for meter testing; he alleged that the complaint was not resolved.

Subsequent bills demanded ₹5,17,764 and, in 2023, ₹10,05,078.

During the proceedings, the bill was revised to ₹1,85,626 on 14 August 2025.

The Single Judge dismissed the appellant’s writ petition, finding that electricity had been consumed without payment of minimum charges and that the bill had been reduced.

The appellant challenged that decision in this intra-court appeal.

1. Whether the Single Judge’s order suffered from illegality or perversity warranting interference in the Letters Patent Appeal

2. Whether the appellant had established grounds to disturb the finding that electricity was consumed without payment of minimum charges, particularly in light of the revised bill

In an intra-court appeal, the Division Bench’s appellate power is not identical to the jurisdiction under Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure; however, interference with a Single Judge’s finding of fact is ordinarily unwarranted absent cogent reasons.

The Court relied on Umabai v. Nilkanth Dhondiba Chavan, (2005) 6 SCC 243, which states that a Letters Patent Appeal is discretionary and that an appellate court should exercise restraint in departing from factual findings.

No statutory provision was identified as forming the basis of the decision.

The Bench found that the meter had been installed in 2014 and that the appellant had consumed electricity but had not paid the minimum charges.

It considered that the appellant should have verified his consumption and charges with the authorities.

The Bench also noted the reduction in the bill dated 14 August 2025 and concluded that the appellant had not substantiated grounds sufficient to dislodge the Single Judge’s findings or establish illegality or perversity.

The Letters Patent Appeal was dismissed; any pending applications were also disposed of.