Telangana

Mahbubnagar

CC/13/2011

M/s Sai Baba Modern Rice Mill, - Complainant(s)

Versus

1. The Assistant Engineer Operation Jadcherla, APCPDCL. - Opp.Party(s)

Sri K. Sailu,

05 Jul 2011

ORDER

  BEFORE THE DISTRICT CONSUMER FORUM AT MAHABUBNAGAR

Tuesday, the 5^th day of July, 2011 

                                                    Present:- Sri P. Sridhara Rao, B.Sc., LL.B., President

                                                                    Sri A. Veerupakshi, B.A., LL.B., Member        

      Smt.D.Nirmala, B.Com., LL.B.,Member

C.C.NO. 13  Of   2011

Between:-

M/s Sai Baba Modern Rice Mill, Polepally village of Jadcherla Mandal, Rep. by its Proprietor K. Mallappa. 

                                                     … Complainant

And

1. The Assistant Engineer Operation Jadcherla, APCPDCL.
2.  The Assistant Divisional Engineer Operation Jadcherla, APCPDCL.
3.  The Assistant Accounts Officer, ERO, Jadcherla, APCPDCL.
4. The Divisional Engineer Operation Jadcherla, APCPDCL.
5. The Superintendent Engineer Operation Mahabubnagar, APCPDCL.  

                                                 … Opposite Parties

 This C.C. coming on before us for final hearing on 23-6-2011 in the presence of Sri K. Sailu, Advocate, Mahabubnagar for the complainant and Sri M. Madhusudhana Rao, Advocate, Nagarkurnool for the opposite parties and the matter having stood over for consideration till this day, this Forum made the following:   

O R D E R

  (Sri P. Sridhara Rao, President)

1.  This is a complaint filed by the complainant under section 12 of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 seeking a direction to the opposite parties to collect the billing amount of the subject bill from 1999 to 2004 and refund the excess amount about Rs.10,00,000/- collected from the complainant or to adjust the excess amount in the future bills and award costs of the complaint.  

2. The averments of the complaint in brief are that:- The complainant has obtained permission from the Collector, Civil Supplies, Mahabubnagar for installation of 34 HP Rice Mill at Polepally village of Jadcherla Mandal. After construction of the Rice Mill, the fittings of electric wires were verified by the Inspector and on his report the department of opposite parties fixed the meter and gave connection for supply of electricity to the Mill in the year 1999.  As per meter reading the amount was collected for the consumption charges of the month and 10 times more than the consumption charges of every month treating the Rice Mill as 75 HP motor instead of 34 HP motor.  The complainant is not aware about the said excess collection of monthly billing amount and due to his innocence he paid the amount with great difficulty to run the Mill and sustained heavy loss in the business by paying excess amount to the department from the year 1999 onwards.  While the matter stood thus, in the year 2004 the department of the opposite parties has installed digital meter and collecting only one time of the billing amount.  On his enquiries he came to know that such 10 times more the billing amount is to be collected to 75 to 100 HP capacity motor but not34 HP motors.  Then on coming to know about the same the complainant approached the opposite parties with a representation to refund the excess billing amount or to adjust the same in future bills.  At the time when the opposite parties did not take any care and informed him that as per board rules they have collected the amount according to the bill, the complainant approached APCPDCL Forum which in turn did not consider his request. Thereupon, the complainant approached Vidyuth Ombudsman with an appeal. The Vidyuth Ombudsman also dismissed his claim without perusing any material. Hence, such acts on the part of the opposite parties in collecting excess amount against to the rules amounts to deficiency of service.  Thus, the complainant is constrained to file the present complaint for the aforesaid relief.   

3. The opposite party No.2 filed counter stating that the Electricity Act is over riding effect U/Sec.174, as such the complainant shall not take any shelter under the provisions of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 except filing an appeal or proceedings before the competent authorities as prescribed under the provisions of Indian Electricity Act, 2003 for which special courts were established for determination of disputes arising between the consumer and licensees etc., and furthermore the complaint is barred by limitation and as such the complaint is liable to be dismissed with costs.

4. The opposite party Nos.1, 3, 4 and 5 filed a memo adopting the counter filed by the opposite party No.2.  

5. Thereupon the complainant in support of his claim filed his affidavit evidence and got marked Exs.A-1 to A-87.  On the other hand, the opposite parties, except filing their counter, did not choose to file any affidavit evidence and documents on their behalf.

6.  The points for determination now are: 

1.  Whether the complaint is maintainable and not barred by limitation?
2.  Whether is there any deficiency on the part of the opposite parties in rendering service to the complainant as alleged?

(iii)  Whether the complainant is entitled for the relief sought for by him? 

    (iv)  To what effect? 

7. Point Nos.1 to 3:- The complainant filed the present complaint alleging deficiency against the opposite parties for collecting excess amount towards the consumption of power supply between 29-9-1999 and 12-4-2004 the date on which the new digital meter was fixed which is against to the rules.  It is no doubt true that the opposite parties except filing their counter with the above said contentions did not choose to produce any affidavit evidence and documents on their behalf.  But the initial burden in the case lies on the complainant to establish that he is a consumer within the meaning of Sec.2(1)(d) of C.P. Act and he filed the present complaint within the period of limitation.  If the complainant satisfies the Forum on the said two aspects then the question of determining the deficiency of service on the part of the opposite parties will arise and if the complainant satisfies the same also then the burden shifts on the opposite parties to establish that there is no such deficiency on their part.

8. So, the question that has to be seen now is whether the complainant comes under the definition of consumer within the meaning of Sec.2(1)(d) of C.P. Act.  If the complainant is utilizing the power supply provided by the opposite parties in running the Mill to eak out his livelihood by means of self employment, then he will come under the definition of consumer as defined U/Sec.2(1)(d) of C.P. Act.  But it is not the case of the complainant as such. The complainant at one stage of his pleadings in the complaint categorically admitted that he is not aware about the said excess collection of monthly billing amount and due to his innocence he paid the amount with great difficulty to run the Mill and sustained heavy loss in the business by paying excess amount to the department from 1999 onwards. The said part of admission on the part of the complainant itself shows that he is consuming the power supply provided by the opposite parties in running the Mill for commercial purpose. Therefore, as rightly contended by the learned standing counsel for the opposite parties, we find that the complaint is not at all maintainable since the complainant is not a consumer within the meaning of Sec.2(1)(d) of C.P. Act.  Further, the complainant being running the Mill for commercial purpose is having any dispute of the present nature with the opposite parties he has to approach the concerned special court, established in view of the enactment of the Indian Electricity Act, 2003 made by the Indian Parliament, having jurisdiction over the matter for determination of the dispute of the present nature between him and the opposite parties but not to this Forum.  On this ground also we find that the present complaint is not maintainable before this Forum.   

9.  As far as limitation is concerned, the very case of the complainant is that the opposite parties have collected excess amount from the date of installation of the meter i.e., from 29-9-1999 to 12-4-2004 the date on which a new digital meter was fixed. If such is the situation, the complainant ought to have filed the complaint within a period of two years from 12-4-2004.  In the case on hand, the complainant filed the present complaint before this Forum on 22-12-2010 i.e., after more than two years.  Therefore, as rightly contended to by the learned standing counsel for the opposite parties, we find that the present complaint is also barred by limitation.  So, in view of the said findings that the complainant is not a consumer within the meaning of Sec.2(1)(d) of C.P. Act  and the complaint is barred by limitation, there is no need to consider the alleged deficiency against the opposite parties in detail and with regard to the relief sought for by the complainant.  On a careful consideration of the entire material on record and for the reasons stated above, we hold that the complaint is liable to be dismissed as not maintainable and thereby the complainant is not entitled for any of the reliefs sought for by him.   The point Nos.1 to 3 are answered accordingly in favour of the opposite parties and against the complainant.                   

10. Point No.4:- In the result, the complaint is dismissed.  In view of the facts and circumstances, both the parties have to bear their own costs.    

        Typed to dictation, corrected and pronounced by us in the open Forum on this the 5^th day of July, 2011.    

 

   I agree                                             I agree

 

 MEMBER                                MEMBER                           PRESIDENT

                                                                                              Appendix of evidence

      List of Witness examined

On behalf of Complainant:                          On behalf of Opposite Parties:   

- Nil -                                                                   - Nil -           

List of documents marked:-

On behalf of Complainant:-    

                      Ex.A-1: Original Electricity Bill, dt.30.8.1999.

                      Ex.A-2: Original Electricity Bill, dt.30.9.1999.

                      Ex.A-3: Original Electricity Bill, dt.29.10.1999.

                       Ex.A-4: Original Electricity Bill, dt.29.11.1999.

                       Ex.A-5: Original Electricity Bill, dt.29.12.1999.

                        Ex.A-6: Original Electricity Bill, dt.29.1.2000.

                        Ex.A-7: Original Electricity Bill, dt.29.2.2000.

                        Ex.A-8: Original Electricity Bill, dt.30.3.2000.

                        Ex.A-9: Original Electricity Bill, dt.30.4.2000.

                        Ex.A-10: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.5.2000. 

                        Ex.A-11: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.6.2000. 

                        Ex.A-12: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.7.2000. 

                        Ex.A-13: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.8.2000.

Ex.A-14: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.9.2000.

Ex.A-15: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.10.2000. 

Ex.A-16: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.11.2000. 

Ex.A-17: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.12.2000. 

Ex.A-18: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.1.2001. 

Ex.A-19: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.2.2001. 

Ex.A-20: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.3.2001. 

Ex.A-21: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.4.2001. 

Ex.A-22: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.5.2001. 

Ex.A-23: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.6.2001. 

Ex.A-24: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.7.2001. 

Ex.A-25: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.8.2001. 

Ex.A-26: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.9.2001. 

Ex.A-27: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.10.2001. 

Ex.A-28: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.11.2001. 

Ex.A-29: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.12.2001. 

Ex.A-30: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.1.2002. 

Ex.A-31: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.2.2002.

Ex.A-32: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.3.2002.

Ex.A-33: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.4.2002.

Ex.A-34: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.5.2002. 

Ex.A-35: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.6.2002. 

Ex.A-36: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.7.2002. 

Ex.A-37: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.8.2002. 

Ex.A-38: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.9.2001. 

Ex.A-39: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.10.2002. 

Ex.A-40: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.11.2002. 

Ex.A-41: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.12.2002. 

Ex.A-42: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.1.2003. 

Ex.A-43: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.2.2003. 

Ex.A-44: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.3.2003.

Ex.A-45: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.4.2003.

Ex.A-46: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.5.2003.

Ex.A-47: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.6.2003.

Ex.A-48: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.8.2003.

Ex.A-49: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.9.2003.

Ex.A-50: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.11.2003.

Ex.A-51: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.12.2003.

Ex.A-52: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.1.2004.

Ex.A-53: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.1.2005.

Ex.A-54: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.2.2005.

Ex.A-55: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.3.2005.

Ex.A-56: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.4.2005.

Ex.A-57: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.8.2005.

Ex.A-58: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.9.2005.

Ex.A-59: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.10.2005.

Ex.A-60: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.11.2005.

Ex.A-61: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.12.2005.

Ex.A-62: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.3.2004.

Ex.A-63: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.4.2004.

Ex.A-64: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.5.2004.

Ex.A-65: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.7.2004.

Ex.A-66: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.8.2004.

Ex.A-67: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.10.2004.

Ex.A-68: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.11.2004.

Ex.A-69: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.12.2004.

Ex.A-70: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.4.2005.

Ex.A-71: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.7.2004.

Ex.A-72: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.5.2002.

Ex.A-73: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.12.2001.

Ex.A-74: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.2.2005.

Ex.A-75: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.3.2003.

Ex.A-76: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.5.2004.

Ex.A-77: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.10.2005.

Ex.A-78: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.9.2005.

Ex.A-79: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.7.2005.

Ex.A-80: Original Electricity Bill, dt.1.12.2005.

Ex.A-81: Copy of Letter, dt.1.12.2010.

Ex.A-82: Copy of Appeal, dt.30.11.2010.

Ex.A-83: Copy of Order, dt.24.9.2010.

Ex.A-84: Photostat copy of Quotation, dt.10.5.1995.

Ex.A-85: Photostat copy of Quotation, dt.3.6.1996.

Ex.A-86: Photostat copy of Letter, dt.6.5.1995.

Ex.A-87: Photostat copy of Certificate.   

On behalf of OPs.:              

 - Nil -

                                                                   

                                                                                                PRESIDENT                                                                                                                                                                                              

Copy to:-

1. Sri K. Sailu, Advocate, Mahabubnagar for the complainant.

2. Sri M. Madhusudhana Rao, Advocate, Nagarkurnool for the opposite parties.