Delhi

New Delhi

CC/829/2014

K.L. Mehta - Complainant(s)

Versus

M/S. Delhi Jal Board - Opp.Party(s)

03 Sep 2015

ORDER

CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM-VI

(DISTT. NEW DELHI), ‘M’ BLOCK, 1^STFLOOR,

VIKAS BHAWAN, I.P.ESTATE,

NEW DELHI-110002.

 

Case No.CC/829/14                                      Dated:

In the matter of:

Sh. K.L Mehta,

S/o Sh. J.R Mehta,

R/o 153-D, Pocket-C,

Siddhartha Extension, Delhi-14

……..COMPLAINANT

       

VERSUS

Shr. Vijay Kumar, CEO,

Delhi Jal Board, Govt. of NCT of Delhi,

Varunalaya, Phase-II, Jhandewalan,

New  Delhi-55

                                         ……. OPPOSITE PARTY

 

ORDER

President: C.K Chaturvedi

               

The Complainant a senior citizen is aggrieved and shocked by DJB’s inaction in attending to his agony by demand of 3 inflated bills of Rs.2,85,77/- for March, Bills of Rs.2,90,102/ of May 2013 and Rs.2,95,812/- of July 2013. He has a domestic water connection at his house at C-153 D, Siddharth Extension, in DDA residential colony. On receiving such huge bills for domestic water use, he met various senior officers  in DJB, as mentioned in the Complaint, but could not meet CEO. But he could not get any response to explain and correct the bills. He seek penalty of DJB for this inaction, as or deficiency.

The DJB, did not appear despite service, and was proceeded exparte. We have considered the complaint, perused the bills and heard the submission. We take judicial notice of the Delhi Govt. announcement of free water, and complainant had admitted that no bills are being received now. But the old demands are a matter of anxiety to him, and also a concern for us. The DJB should have appeared and explained it as a clerical mistake or real bills. Such huge bills of domestic meter connection, prime facie appear to be by system mistake of computer, unless explained otherwise. The DJB has failed to rebut this, and left the matter to this Forum to pronounce. We therefore, direct DJB, to withdraw these bills immediately cause a enquiry against the officers who raised such bills and had failed to address his grievances on his repeated visits and against DJB officials who took decision not to attend the Forum to explain the bills. Such acts are public misfeasance. We impose a punitive compensation of Rs.2 lakhs on DJB, which should be recovered from the salary of responsible officials found guilty under a enquiry. Out of the penalty Rs.20,000/- will be paid to the Complainant and remaining to be deposited in Delhi State Consumer Welfare Fund. The Complainant need not pay such bills.

The order shall be complied with within 30 days of the receipt of the copy of the order; otherwise action can be taken against OP under Section 25 / 27 of the Consumer Protection Act.

File be consigned to record room.

Copy of the order be sent to the parties free of cost.

 

        Pronounced in open Court on 03.09.2015.

 

 

(C.K.CHATURVEDI)

PRESIDENT

 

 (Ritu Garodia)

MEMBER