High Court Allows EV Owner To Install Charger In Parking Slot After Long Legal Battle
A Bengaluru man, an apartment resident, had to pursue a long legal battle against his housing association to get an EV charger installed in his dedicated parking slot! The residents association of his apartment complex opposed the installation, forcing the EV owner to approach the court. The Karnataka High Court’s latest ruling on this case, makes one thing clear: an apartment owner cannot be denied the right to install an EV charger in his designated parking space, provided all necessary safety norms are met.
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The dispute began when Naveen Nagendra, a resident of Shriram Suhaana Apartment on Doddaballapura Road in Bengaluru, sought permission to install a dedicated EV charging line in his parking slot. The apartment association opposed the move.
The complex consists of multiple towers. In many cases, parking slots are not located in the same tower as the apartment. The association raised concerns that if every resident demanded a separate charging line, there would be cables running all over the property. This could pose serious safety risks to both the building and its residents. The matter eventually reached the Karnataka High Court.
The court referred to a communication dated August 3, 2023, issued by BESCOM ( Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited). It mentioned that an individual does not need a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from BESCOM to install a charging unit in their residence.
The court also acknowledged the association’s safety concerns. It noted that in a large residential complex, allowing all residents to draw individual charging lines without planning could create practical challenges.
However, the High Court was clear on one thing. The petitioner is entitled to have a dedicated charging line. The association cannot deny it outright. They must consult experts and ensure compliance with BESCOM and other regulatory guidelines. The order directed the association to complete the consultation within four weeks and facilitate installation.
This is not the first time resident societies have clashed with EV owners. Many residents associations deny permission due to fears of EV batteries overcharging or catching fire. Others cite lack of electrical load capacity, space constraints, or approval hurdles. Some residents are forced to rely on limited community chargers installed by the society. In certain cases, societies even impose fines for charging through domestic meters. Cities such as Mumbai, Noida, Bengaluru, and Pune have reported multiple such cases.
EV ownership can be a pain if one has to rely completely on public chargers. Home charging provides overnight convenience and peace of mind. More importantly, it is much less expensive compared to DC fast charging.
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The good news is that the government is now stepping in. Multiple High Courts have directed housing societies to facilitate EV charging installations. They have emphasised that property rights extend to reasonable use of designated parking spaces for charging infrastructure.
The Ministry of Power guidelines issued in September 2024 clearly state that housing societies cannot stop residents from installing EV chargers in their parking slots. Residents are allowed to use existing domestic meters. Separate EV meters are optional. Load enhancement can be applied for directly by the resident. Resident Welfare Associations cannot impose fines or force people to use only community chargers.
The Delhi government’s EV policy now mandates that 20 percent of parking spaces in new residential societies must be EV-ready. Maharashtra and Karnataka have introduced similar policies. More such mandates are expected in the near future.
At the same time, housing societies do have genuine concerns. Most older residential complexes were built long before EVs became mainstream. Their sanctioned electrical load may not support multiple cars charging simultaneously. Night-time peak demand could strain transformers. There is fear of fire hazards and penalties from power distribution companies.
Retrofitting infrastructure is not easy. EV charging requires dedicated cabling, proper earthing, fire-resistant conduits, and adequate ventilation. Also, in basement parking areas, space is limited. All these together, make societies worried.