By Smt.Padmini Sudheesh, President
The case of complainant is that the complainant has an agricultural electric connection for the consumer No.2686. Complainant has got exemption from payment of electricity charges from 1997. The name of complainant is included in the exemption register kept in the Krishi Bhavan as No.533. So the complainant was under the belief that the 3rd respondent will pay the electricity charges. So the complainant did not pay charges. But the 2nd respondent issued a notice demanding Rs.12,000/- as current charges. The complainant is a poor farmer and is unable to pay the said amount. So an application submitted to the Minister for power on 10/6/07 and in consequent to this letter a letter from Deputy Chief Engineer dated 28/11/07 has received by the complainant. The complainant has received a bill dated 22/10/07 demanding to pay Rs.76/-. But it was told that only after getting information from 3rd respondent office it should be cleared. While so on 18/1/08 the power supply has disconnected without notice. On enquiry to KSEB it was told that complainant should pay Rs.11,990/- as current charges. It caused heavy loss to complainant. Hence the complaint.
2. The counter averment of respondents 1and 2 are that the agricultural department is the authority which is making the list of eligible agriculturists for exemption. After making the exemption from payment of current charges the details would be intimated to electricity office and the current charges will be paid by agricultural office. The connection of complainant is not exempted from payment of current charges. The current charges of consumer No.2686 are not obtained to this office so far. So the complainant is liable to pay the amount claimed. There is no deficiency in service from this respondent. Hence dismiss.
3. 3rd respondent remained exparte.
4. Points for consideration are that :
1) Whether the complainant is entitled to get restoration of the connection ?
2) Other reliefs and costs ?
5. Evidence adduced consists of oral testimony of PW1 and Exhibits P1 to P3. No evidence adduced by respondents.
6. The complaint is filed to get restoration of the electric connection which has been disconnected from 2nd respondent office. It is the case of complainant that he has got an agricultural connection vide consumer No.2686 and it is exempted from payment of current charges. But the 2nd respondent issued a notice demanding nearly Rs.12,000/- as current charges. The complainant would say that since his connection is exempted from payment of current charges he is not liable to pay the same.
7. The 1st and 2nd respondents filed their objection by stating that the name of complainant is not exempted from payment of electricity charges and his name is not included in the list given by 3rd respondent office. So the respondent stated that complainant is not entitled to get exemption from payment of current charges.
8. The complainant is examined as PW1 and Exhibits P1 to P3 documents were marked. He has admitted that the bill has issued for the energy consumed by him. It is his definite case that the amount claimed by KSEB for Rs.12,000/- should be cancelled. But he is not produced any document to show that this type of bill has issued by KSEB. But it is to be noted that in the version of respondents 1 and 2 they have stated that the complainant is liable to pay Rs.13,351/- as arrears upto 31/1/08. Only on the basis of demand of this amount the connection of consumer No.2686 has disconnected. So the cause of action is issuance of this bill. But the complainant did not produce this bill. He has no case that the bill has lost from him. His prayer is only to get restoration of connection and he has no prayer for cancellation of that disputed bill. So the Forum is unable to cancel the bill which has not been produced before the Forum He has produced the copy of letter submitted to the Hon’ble Minister for Electricity. In the letter also it is not stated the bill is submitting along with the letter. Since the disputed bill is not produced he is not entitled to get cancellation of that bill.
9. In the result the complaint is dismissed.
Dictated to the Confdl. Asst., transcribed by her, corrected by me and pronounced in the open Forum this the 7th day of March 2012.
