KERALA STATE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION,

VAZHUTHACAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

APPEAL No. 23/2018

JUDGMENT DATED: 26.06.2019

(Against the Order in C.C. 332/2017 of CDRF, Ernakulam)

PRESENT:

HON’BLE JUSTICE SRI. K. SURENDRA MOHAN              : PRESIDENT

SRI.T.S.P. MOOSATH                                                                 : JUDICIAL MEMBER

SMT. BEENA KUMARY. A                                                         : MEMBER

APPELLANT:

Shamsudeen N.A, Fazil Manzil, U.C. College P.O, Ernakulam-683 102.

                                                Vs.

RESPONDENT:

Assistant Executive Engineer, Kerala Water Authority Sub Division, Aluva-683 101.

                             (By Adv. Issac Samuel)

JUDGMENT

SMT. BEENA KUMARY. A : MEMBER

The appellant is the complainant in C.C. No. 332/2017 on the file of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Ernakulam.  The respondent is the opposite party in the complaint, Kerala Water Authority.

2. The case of the complainant is against the water bill.  The complainant alleged that without assessing the meter reading the opposite party issued an exorbitant bill of Rs. 22,871/-.  Challenging the bill, the complainant has filed the complaint before the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Ernakulam.  On 10.11.2017 the case was dismissed for default.  The complainant filed this appeal for setting aside the order of dismissal of the complaint dated 10.11.2017.  The reason for the non-appearance was that the complainant noted the posting date erroneously as 11.11.2017.  For that reason he did not appear on the actual posting date of the case i.e; on 10.11.2017. 

3.  We heard both the parties and find that the reason for his non-appearance is not sufficient.  But for the interest of justice it is reasonable to give opportunity to the appellant/complainant to adduce evidence in support of his claim and decide the case on merits of his claim.  Therefore we have not gone through the merits of the case.  Based on the above discussion we allow this appeal and set aside the Order dated 10.11.2017 of the District Forum, Ernakulam in C.C. No. 332/2017. 

In the result, the matter is remanded back to the District Forum to decide the complaint on merits.  Both parties are directed to appear before the District Forum.  The District Forum shall dispose of the complaint as early as possible. 

Send back the records to the District Forum, forthwith.

JUSTICE K. SURENDRA MOHAN         : PRESIDENT

                                                                       T.S.P. MOOSATH    : JUDICIAL MEMBER

jb                                                                                                                                            BEENA KUMARY. A         : MEMBER