Punjab

Rupnagar

CC/23/4

Gurpal Singh - Complainant(s)

Versus

Punjab State Electricity Board - Opp.Party(s)

Sh. V.K Dhiman Adv

05 May 2023

ORDER

DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION

RUPNAGAR

Consumer Complaint No.        :4of 05.01.2023

            Date of Decision                     :05.05.2023

Gurpal Singh aged about 66 year son of Lajja Ram Resident of Village Tajpura, Rupnagar, Punjab (Adhaar card No.2794 3954 9524).

                                                                                      ….Complainant

Versus

 

1. Punjab State Electricity Board, through its Chairman, The Mall, Patiala.
2. Chief Engineer, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, electricity Sub Division, Morinda District Rupnagar.
3. Sub Divisional Officer, Punjab State Electricity Board Morinda, District Rupnagar.

  …Opposite Parties

Complaint under the Consumer Protection Act.

 

QUORUM:

SH.KULJIT SINGH, PRESIDENT

SH.RAMESH KUMAR GUPTA, MEMBER

SMT.RANVIR KAUR, MEMBER

 

COUNSEL FOR THE PARTIES:

For complainant             :         Sh.Varinder Kumar Dhiman, Advocate

For OPs                          :         Sh.K.S. Longia, Advocate

 

ORDER

PER  KULJIT SINGH, PRESIDENT

 

1. In the present complaint, counsel for the complainant has averred that complainant is senior citizen; complainant is consumer and having electricity connection bearing No.3006259721 and complainant was having an another electricity connection on his property bearing No.3006259740, for his livelihood which was disconnected by OPs with order of Punjab Pollution and control board Patiala.  Before disconnect the electricity connection of account No.3006259740, complainant is/was having outstanding of bill about of Rs.7290/- which was not deposited by complainant till date, the connection of complainant was disconnected in the month of Oct. 2020 and meter was also removed from the spot by official of OPs.  Complainant was very surprised when complainant has received electricity bill of meter No.3006259740 on 27.10.2022 of an amount of Rs.66,560/- by mentioning the previous arrear of Rs.55,620/- in said bill OPs has mentioned new reading as on 27.10.2022 is 0, old meter reading on 07.07.2022 is 727, and current consumption is 1228 unit which is not possible as the meter was already disconnected by official of PSPCL namely Raisam Singh and Bahadur Singh.  Complainant has already moved an application before the OP on 07.11.2022 for making necessary correction in bill.  Thereafter, Ops has made report dated 14.11.2022 on the application of complainant with remark that no meter has been found on spot.  Complainant again received another bill dated 21.12.2022 of account No.3006259740 for an amount of Rs.73670/-.  Ops given threats to complainant that if complainant failed to pay the amount of Rs.73670/- of account No.3006259740, then OP will disconnect the domestic electricity connection bearing No.3006259721.Lastly, prayer has been made that Ops be restrained from disconnection of connection No.3006259721, withdraw/quash electricity bill of meter No.3006259740 dated 27.10.2022 of Rs.66560/- and bill dated 21.12.2022 of Rs.73670/-.  He also claimed Rs.5 Lac as compensation and Rs.50,000/- as litigation expenses.
2. Upon notice, OPs have appeared through counsel and contested the complaint by submitted that account No.300625921 is in the name of Gurpal Singh and there is another account under NRS category account No.3006259740 as per complaint.  Punjab Pollution control Board vide its letter dated 09.10.2020 directed the OP to disconnect the supply and TDCO was issued accordingly on 13.10.2020 directed the OP to disconnect the supply and TDCO was issued accordingly on 13.10.2020 and supply was disconnected.  A bill dated 05.10.2020 of Rs.9250/- same which remained unpaid and next bill dated 05.12.2020 for sum of Rs.10,140/- was issued which remained unpaid.  Said bill old arrears were included.  The bill dated 03.02.2021 was issued for sum of Rs.10690/- and same was unpaid.  Ultimately PDCO was issued on 24.02.2021 and was affected on  19.03.2021 at closing reading was 727.  Bills were issued in routine on the basis of consumption which is matter of record.  The bills were issued and were generated by computer.  An application was received to rectify the bill by complainant and the same was marked to JE on who’s reported on 14.11.2022 that there is no meter existing at the spot and ultimately keeping in view the fact stated, a notice dated 24.02.2023 has been issued for a sum of Rs.10754/- upto 19.03.2021 after overhauling the account and complainant is informed accordingly vide letter No.171 dated 24.02.2023.the OP has charged amount upto date of disconnection. Other averments of complaint are denied and prayed for dismissal of complaint with costs. 
3. In order to prove their respective versions, both the parties produced on the file their respective documents.
4. We have heard learned the parties with their valuable assistance and have also gone through the record carefully.
5. The complainant has produced copies of bills. From perusal of copies of bills, it revealed that complainant is consumer.  There is also admitted by the parties that there is still outstanding against complainant’s electricity account number.
6. The OPs should issue electricity bills to complainant as per his consumption consumed by him. The complainant approached office of OPs various times in this regard but OPs failed to do so. It is bounden duty of the OPs to issue the electricity bills to complainant as per his actual consumption, but this practice was not done by OPs, which is against the rules of PSPCL & Electricity Supply Instruction Manual. He requested the OPs many times in this regard but OPs failed to do so.  Further, Ops have continuously demanding charges from complainant removal of electric meter of the complainant, which is deficiency on the part of OPs.
7. Moreover, as the State Government has already waived of previous bills of the consumer having sanction load upto 2KW vide notification No.1/273/2021-1Cabinet/7810 dated 02.11.2021.
8. In view above said facts and circumstances and settled legal position, this complaint is partly allowed and the OPs are not entitled to recover the said amount of bill and the OPs are directed to rectify the demand/bill in dispute as discussed and as per Govt. Notification dated 02.11.2021. 
9. The compliance of order be made by the OPs within the period of 45 days from the date of receipt of copy of this order.
10. Copies of the order be sent to the parties, as permissible, under the rules.
11. File be indexed and consigned to record room.
12.  

Dated:05.05.2023

                             (Kuljit Singh)

                             President

 

(Ramesh Kumar Gupta)                                     (Ranvir Kaur)

        Member                                                            Member