DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, JHARSUGUDA

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CASE NO. 37 OF 2018

Pratima Devi,

W/O: Sitaram Singh,

RO: Lectures Colony, Beheramal, PO: OMP Line,

PS/Dist- Jharsuguda, Odisha…………………..……………………..…..……. Complainant.

                                           Versus 

1. Executive Engineer, WESCO,

Beheramal, Jharsuguda.

2. Sub Divisional Officer, WESCO,

Pahadi Mandir, Jharsuguda.

3. Jr. Engineer, WESCO,

Section-III, Near S.D.J.M Court, Beheramal,

Dist: Jharsugufda, Odisha................................................................ Opp. Parties.

Counsel for the Parties:-

For the Complainant                                              Self.

For the Opp. Parties                                              B.B. Barai, Adv. & Associates.

Date of Order: 12.09.2018

Present

                                                                                   1. Shri Santosh Kumar Ojha, Member.

                                                                                   2. Smt. Anamika Nanda, Member(W).

Shri Santosh Kumar Ojha, Member :- The  brief facts of the complaint case is that, the complainant has taken electrical connection with having Consumer No. 413123030607 and she was paying the electricity bills regularly to the O.Ps. In the month of February, 2016 a person from electric department came to the house of complainant and objected for cello-tap which the complainant had put on electric wire connecting the electric meter and to hide the issue he asked for a bribe of Rs.10,000/- only which the complainant could not paid.  The complainant was forced to put a signature on a paper.  When the complainant asked on the matter that person threatened her in some filthy language.  After getting signature he went up and since the month onwards the O.Ps. sending arrear bill of Rs.27,303/- only till date.  The complainant is paying the average bill of Rs.200/- to 250/- only. The complainant being an old lady (63 years) while paying the current electric bill the O.Ps. denied to receive the same and continuing arrear bill amount, hence this case.

                On notice of complaint the O.Ps appeared but failed to file their written version even after providing sufficient opportunities and stand ex-parte.

After ex-parte hearing from the complainant the case posted for further hearing on the next date fixed and on the said next date the Advocate for the O.Ps just filed their written version along with relevant documents without any pray to be considered. Copies served to the complainant. The complainant orally objected strongly for filing of such documents at this stage. Thus as per the settled principles of law the said documents alongwith written version has got no meaning at all for the present circumstance of the case.  

As per submission of the complainant and her documents it is found that, she is an old senior citizen lady having consumer No. 413123030607, was / is paying the electricity bills regularly as per her electricity energy consumption. All of sudden a person said to be from O.Ps side came to the house of complainant in the month of May 2016 and objected on the cello tape which was put on the service wire of complainant and asked for bribe of Rs.10,000/- only to hide the matter by putting some documents to sign forcefully.  While denying to sign by the complainant the said person started behaving in unusual languages. On the next month onwards the complainant received arrear bill of Rs.27,303/- only excluding regular bills. The complainant requested to omit the arrear amount and paying the regular bills. But the O.Ps did not respond.

Generally manipulation in the service wire is not possible on the part of a lay man without support of any technician or any line man or any authority of the O.Ps. Department. If it is so then the O.Ps are also equally liable for such misconducted activities. On the abovementioned circumstance the O.Ps are liable for their behavior towards the complainant and are found to be deficient in their service.

Hence the complaint petition is hereby allowed with directions to the O.Ps to receive the regular electricity bills from the complainant and waive out the entire penal charges imposed on the complainant by issuing afresh electricity bill onwards and further directed to change the service wire of complainant having without any fault on it within 30 (thirty) days from the date of receipt of this order.   

Accordingly the case in hand is disposed of.

Order pronounced in the open court today the 12^th day of September 2018. Free copy of this order be communicated to the concerned parties as per rule. 

          I Agree.                             

1. Nanda, Member( W)                                                      S.K.Ojha, Member       

                                     Dictated and corrected by me

        S.K.Ojha, Member