February 12th, 2025
Two-Year Battle Ends in Victory for Urban EV Users
A businessman’s persistent fight for his right to charge his electric vehicle at home has led to a landmark ruling that could reshape urban EV infrastructure across Maharashtra.
When Policy Meets Reality
The case began in May 2022 when Amit Dholakia, a Malabar Hill resident, faced an unexpected roadblock. His housing society, Bhagwati Bhuwan CHS at Carmichael Road, denied him permission to install an EV charging point in his garage, citing lack of policy guidelines.
Beyond the Surface
The case revealed deeper issues:
- State’s EV promotion lacked housing society guidelines
- No clear rules for residential charging infrastructure
- Gap between policy intent and implementation
- Housing societies operating in policy vacuum
- Need for standardized approval process
Battle for Change
Dholakia’s journey included:
- Initial society application rejection
- Appeals to urban development authorities
- Letters to municipal corporation
- Approaches to cooperative registrar
- Finally, court intervention
Court’s Clear Message
The division bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Advait Sethna found that despite claims, authorities had taken no concrete steps. Their directive includes:
- Expedited drafting of charging station rules
- Amendment of society bylaws
- Clear framework for permissions
- Guidelines considering space availability
- Structured implementation process
Moving Forward
The ruling opens doors for:
- Easier EV adoption in urban areas
- Clear rights for society residents
- Standardized approval processes
- Better charging infrastructure
- Support for sustainable mobility
This landmark decision bridges the gap between Maharashtra’s EV ambitions and ground realities, potentially setting a precedent for other states to follow.
