Punjab

Rupnagar

RBT/CC/18/116

Ashok Kumar - Complainant(s)

Versus

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited - Opp.Party(s)

Sunil Srivastav Adv

02 Jan 2023

ORDER

DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDERSSAL COMMISSION, CAMP COURT AT LUDHIANA.

                                                      RBT/CC/NO/116 of 20.02.2018

                                                      Date of Decision: 02.01.2023

 

Ashok Kumar son of Shri Ram Ditta Mall Saluja, resident of House No.80 Mohar Singh Nagar, Ludhiana  

                                                                         …...Complainant

                                   Vs

1. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, The Mall, Patiala through its Chairman /M.D.
2. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, Sub Division Unit No.1, Cheema Chowk, Ludhiana, through its XEN

                                                                         ……Opposite Parties

 Complaint under Consumer Protection Act

QUORUM:-

                SH. RANJIT SINGH, PRESIDENT

                SMT. RANVIR KAUR, MEMBER

 

ARGUED BY:-

      Sh.Sunil Srivastav, Adv. For complainant

      Sh.G.S. Pahwa, Adv. For Ops

 

ORDER:-

SH. RANJIT SINGH, PRESIDENT

      The present order of ours will dispose of the above complaint received by way of transfer from District Consumer Commission, Ludhiana, filed under Consumer Protection Act, by the complainant against the opposite parties on the ground that the complainant is a consumer of domestic category electricity connection bearing account No.E11AP020482P, contract account No.3002678891 for the last 20 years and the complainant has been regularly paying the electricity charges to the department and never committed default in the payment of charges. In the month of November, 2016, the said meter jumped the reading and when this fact came to the knowledge of the complainant, he disclosed this fact to the officials of the OPs and the officials of the OPs changed the electric meter. Thereafter, the Ops sent the bill dated 31.12.2016 on the basis of average for Rs.,23,500/-. The complainant has paid the bill through cheque. After that, the complainant has received one bill dated 29.4.2017 for the amount of Rs.6,01,810/- for the consumption of 77391 units. On receiving this bill, the complainant was shocked to see the bill of such a huge amount. The said connection is a domestic connection and there is no such huge electricity consumption. The average amount of bill always remains between Rs.8000/- to Rs.10,000/- for two months. It clearly shows that the said bill has been issued on the basis of clerical error on the part of the consumer clerk. In the bill, the old reading has also been added, whereas the complainant has already paid the same when he deposited the bill of Rs.23,500/- and hence the complainant is not liable to pay the said amount. It is further stated that after receiving the bill, the complainant approached and Ops and requested them to withdraw the said bill, the officials of the OPs threatened the complainant that they shall disconnect the electric connection in case the amount is not paid by the complainant. The complainant challenged the meter reading and on the objection raised by the complainant, the meter was sent to ME Lab and his signatures were obtained on many blank papers and forms, but the complainant was never called in ME Lab at the time of checking the meter in question and the meter was not checked in the presence of complainant. The OPs sent the bills dated 26.6.2017 for Rs.6,21,870/- bill dated 26.8.2017 for Rs.6,72,320/- bill dated 28.10.2017 for Rs.7,16,940/- and bill dated 29.12.2017 for Rs.7,63,170/- by adding the excess amount but since the complainant was not liable to pay the same, so he did not pay the same. The last bill was raised by the OPs for Rs.7,63,170/- dated 29.12.2017 and thereafter the OPs disconnected the electric connection of the complainant on 6.2.2018 without hearing any request of the complainant. Thus, alleging deficiency in service the complainant has sought the following relief against the OPs:-

1. To withdraw the illegal demand raised by the Ops vide bill dated 29.4.2017 for Rs.6,01,810/- for consumption of 77391 units.    
2. To pay Rs.1,00,000/- as compensation for facing mental agony and physical harassment due to deficiency in service
3. To pay Rs.20,000/- as litigation expenses.
4. Any other additional or alternative relief, to which the complainant may be found entitled to in the facts and circumstances of the case.   
2.  

3.        The learned counsel for the complainant has closed the evidence after tendering certain documents. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the OPs has also closed the evidence after tendering certain documents

4.       We have heard the learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the record file, carefully and minutely.

5.       It is pertinent to mention here that the Ops have placed on record the report of the ME lab regarding checking of the meter where the reading of the meter found correct. So, there is no fault in the meter and the OPs have issued the electricity bill correctly.  In arguments, the learned counsel for the OPs stated that the meter was sent to the ME lab for checking with the consent of the complainant.   Even, the reading of the meter on 2.11.2016 at the time of checking by the JE was 147171 and after about 20 days when the meter was changed, the final reading was shown in the job order was 148716 meaning thereby that the complainant made consumption of 1545 units during that period.

6.       Consequently the complainant has failed to specifically prove his case. Therefore, the complaint stands dismissed. Free certified copies of this order be sent to the parties, as per rules. The file be sent back to the District Consumer Commission, Ludhiana, for consigning the same to the Record Room.

•  

January 02, 2023

(Ranjit Singh)

PRESIDENT

•  

                                   

 

(Ranvir Kaur)

MEMBER

•