Punjab

Rupnagar

RBT/CC/18/215

Birbal Sharma - Complainant(s)

Versus

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

Lakhvir S. adv

17 Jan 2023

ORDER

DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDERSSAL COMMISSION, CAMP COURT AT LUDHIANA.

                                                      RBT/CC/No.215 of 02.04.2018

                                                      Date of Decision: 17.01.2023

 

Birbal Sharma son of Shri Ayodha Lal, resident of Street No.4. New Janta Nagar, Gill Market, Ludhiana 

                                                                         …...Complainant

                                   Vs

1. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, The Mall, Patiala through its Chairman /M.D.
2. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, Janta Nagar Division (Special) Ludhiana through its XEN  
3. Dalip Singh, J.E. P.S.P.C. Limited, Janta Nagar, Division Special, Ludhiana

                                                                         ……Opposite Parties

 Complaint under Consumer Protection Act

QUORUM:-

                SH. RANJIT SINGH, PRESIDENT

                SMT. RANVIR KAUR, MEMBER

 

ARGUED BY:-

      Sh.V.S. Mand, Adv. For complainant

      OPs exparte

 

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 running a sweet shop under the name and style of M/s Sharma Sweet Shop at Street No.4 New Janta Nagar, Gill Market, Ludhiana, in order to earn his livelihood by self employment. In the said premises, an electric connection bearing consumer No.W21JF270827F is lying installed in the name of Smt. Nasib Kaur. The complainant is the tenant in the said premises under the landlordship of Nasib Kaur. The complainant is consuming the electricity through the said electric meter and is paying the electricity bills to the department. Thus, the complainant is availing the services of the Ops by paying considerable amount. It is further averred that about two years back, the electricity department got shifted the electricity meters from the personal premises of consumers to the outside of the premises by L & T company. During this process, when the officials of the company shifted the meter of the complainant, they installed the same at a distance of about 150 yards from the premises of the complainant and the officials joined the wires of premises of complainant with another electric meter of some other person and joined the wires of that very person’s premises with the electric meter of the complainant  bearing No.J.F.27/827. This fact came to the knowledge of the complainant in the month of March, 2017 when the complainant received the bill of huge amount of Rs. 18,518/-, whereas all the times, the average bill of the complainant used to between Rs.2500/- to Rs.4000/-. On receiving this bill of hefty amount, the complainant was shocked and he approached the officials and conducted the enquiry. On this, the said factum of connecting the outgoing wires with the meters of each other came to the knowledge of the complainant and it was also disclosed to the complainant that the concerned JE i.e. OP3 conducted the inspection of meter of Amarjit Singh bearing No.JF27/1856 on 21.2.2016  and reshifted the wires, thereby connecting the outgoing wires, thereby connecting the outgoing wires of the complainant’s premises with his own electric meter. After that, the officials of the Ops forced the complainant to deposit the said amount, otherwise they will disconnect the electric meter. In order to save the disconnection of the electric meter, the complainant under protest deposited 20% of the disputed amount and requested to refer the meter to Dispute Settlement Committee of Ops. The meter was referred to DSC, where the complainant appeared and tried to apprise the officials that he has never consumed the electricity of such hefty amount and also tried to apprise the officials that all this has happened due to the wrongly connecting the wires. The complainant also tried to apprise the officials that his average bill always remained between Rs.2500 to Rs.4000/- so how he can consumer the electricity of such hefty amount, but the officials of the OP refused to listen anything and DSC gave the report against 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  .    
2. To pay Rs.50,000/- 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.  

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

5.       Since the OPs have chosen to remain ex-parte and otherwise also the evidence of the complainant appears to be cogent, reliable and trustworthy. We have no alternative except to believe the contents of the complaint as well as documentary evidence attached with the complaint by the complainant.  We have also perused all other documents.

6.       Consequently, the complaint of the complainant is hereby accepted with the directions to the OPs to withdraw the bill amounting to Rs.18,518/-. The Ops are also directed to pay the amount as a consolidated amount as compensation and litigation expenses to the tune of Rs.15,000/-. The OPs are further directed to comply with the said order within 30 days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. 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.

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January 17, 2023

(Ranjit Singh)

PRESIDENT

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(Ranvir Kaur)

MEMBER

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