LUCKNOW, Oct. 23 -- The Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court has ruled that a pending civil dispute over property ownership cannot, by itself, be a ground to deny an electricity connection, observing that access to power is integral to the right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.

A division bench of Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary made the observation while allowing a petition filed by Rae Bareli resident Rakesh Kumar Mishra, who had sought a new domestic electricity connection for his house in Kranti Puri on Jail Garden Road.

In its recent judgment, the court said Clause 4.4 of the Electricity Supply Code, 2005, allows an applicant to submit an indemnity form as an alternative document fo...