Hyderabad: In a significant shift affecting builders, residents, and power consumers across Telangana, authorities have reaffirmed that electricity connections will not be granted for buildings without a valid Occupancy Certificate (OC)/Completion Certificate (CC), in line with a Supreme Court-backed legal framework and recent High Court rulings. The policy is being strictly enforced by the Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) as part of a crackdown on illegal constructions and misuse of earlier relaxations.
The legal basis for the policy stems from the Supreme Court judgment in Rajendra Kumar Barjatya vs. UP Avas Evam Vikas Parishad (2024), which held that basic service connections such as electricity, water and sewerage must be provided only after production of a valid OC/CC from civic authorities. The Telangana High Court in 2025 upheld and applied this rule, refusing to allow a multi-storey building in Himayatnagar to receive power without first submitting its OC.
Implementation and TGSPDCL’s Stand
TGSPDCL officials have reiterated that, for all buildings over 10 metres in height, power connections will be issued only after the necessary OC is presented. A letter dated July 17, 2025 from TGSPDCL makes it clear that structures over this threshold must obtain an OC from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) or the appropriate civic body before the power supply can be released.
According to the discom, this rule is in place not only to comply with court directives but also to curb the release of electricity to constructions that may be unsafe, in violation of approved plans, or otherwise unauthorized. TGSPDCL’s commercial director has noted that some engineers and builders have been served show-cause notices after allegedly approving connections without proper documentation.
Impact on New and Existing Connections
Under the current regime, both new connections for recently completed buildings and requests for additional load on existing connections are subject to OC verification. For newly constructed apartments that have been sold but have not yet received an OC, residents and builders are facing delays or refusals in power connections until the building is certified by the civic authority.
In cases where OC is not yet available, TGSPDCL officials say temporary or alternate Category 8 connections may be permitted, but these come with significantly higher tariffs (up to around ₹12 per unit) compared to regular domestic or commercial supply, making them a costly interim option for consumers.
Challenges With Obtaining OCs
Obtaining an Occupancy Certificate in Hyderabad has long been criticised as a lengthy and bureaucratic process, involving inspections, compliance checks, and documentation from multiple agencies. Although state authorities have introduced measures in recent years to streamline OC issuance, many buildings constructed with deviations still struggle to secure final certificates due to non-compliance with building norms or planning regulations.
Legal experts and civic officials say that buildings constructed without proper approvals or with deviations often cannot get an OC. Even old buildings built decades ago without OC are being affected unless they complete regularisation procedures and meet current safety and compliance standards.
Legal Battles and Court Cases
A number of writ petitions have been filed in the Telangana High Court challenging TGSPDCL’s refusal to grant electricity without OC, with property owners arguing for interim relief or relaxations based on earlier court orders allowing power on undertakings. However, courts have been reluctant to grant such relief, noting widespread misuse of earlier leniency by builders who failed to subsequently produce certificates.
In one case (WP No. 24282 of 2025), the High Court directed petitioners to first obtain the OC from municipal authorities before TGSPDCL could consider their application for electricity supply, citing the Supreme Court precedent as binding.
Allegations of Misconduct and Public Frustration
Some consumers and property owners have also alleged improper practices by certain TGSPDCL staff, including assistant engineers demanding unofficial payments or bribes for processing power connection applications. These allegations are being looked into by anti-corruption watchdogs and internal vigilance units, although no official figures or case numbers have been publicly disclosed yet.
Residents and builders have called on the government and distribution company to issue clearer guidelines on OC requirements, timelines for processing, and special provisions for older buildings legitimately constructed before the current norms. Consumer groups argue that while compliance is necessary, implementation should not lead to prolonged power outages for residents who have otherwise complied with building rules.
Government Efforts and What Comes Next
The state government has emphasised that the OC requirement helps enforce safe and law-compliant construction and supports revenue protection for civic bodies. Officials also note that ongoing reforms to simplify OC procedures and digital verification through platforms like GHMC aim to reduce red tape and accelerate approvals.
Until formal changes are made, TGSPDCL’s strict “No OC, No electricity” stance remains in effect, with courts and regulatory authorities backing the requirement as a necessary precondition for service connections in Telangana.
Fact & Figures: Illegal and unauthorised constructions remain a significant challenge across Hyderabad. Since early 2025 itself, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has identified around 1,538 illegal structures citywide, served more than 1,500 show-cause notices, demolished over 200 unauthorised buildings and sealed nearly 100 structures as part of intensified enforcement under court directives. The Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) also reported that during its verification drive, nearly 400–500 buildings or individual floors lacked mandatory Occupancy Certificates, resulting in rejection of power supply applications and show-cause notices to about 60 engineers for approving connections without proper documentation. These actions reflect mounting regulatory pressure to enforce building norms and curb illegal development across Greater Hyderabad.
