BEFORE THE DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM-I, U.T. CHANDIGARH

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Raseed Ahmed resident of House No.2625, Mauli Jagran Colony, Manimajra, UT, Chandigarh.

…..Complainant

                                      V E R S U S

1.       SDO Electricity, Sub Division, Manimajra, Engineering Department and Municipal Corporation, UT, Chandigarh.

2.       Chief Engineer, Chandigarh Administration, Sector 9, Chandigarh.

                                                ……Opposite Parties

CORAM:     SH.P.D.GOEL                                    PRESIDENT

                   SH.RAJINDER SINGH GILL               MEMBER

                   DR.(MRS) MADANJIT KAUR SAHOTA  MEMBER

Argued by:    Sh.H.S.Ranga, Authorised Representative of complainant.

                        Sh.Jatinder Singh, Govt. Pleader for the OPs

PER P.D.GOEL,PRESIDENT

1.           Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that the complainant is the holder of electricity connection bearing account No.508/MA50/033100P. It is the allegation of the complainant that the meter became defective in the year 2006. It is also the allegation of the complainant that he received the electricity bill on the higher side from May, 2006 to July, 2006. He made a complaint with the OPs. The bill amount of Rs.3223/- was reduced to Rs.1000/-.

              It is the case of the complainant that the OPs removed the meter because it was not working properly. It is further the case of the complainant that thereafter, the OPs issued the electricity bills, although no electricity was being consumed. The complainant made a request vide letter dated 15.11.2011 and 26.12.2011 to the SDO Electricity, Sub Division, Manimajra, Chandigarh but to no avail. Hence, this complaint.

2.           OPs No.1 & 2 filed the joint reply, wherein, it has been admitted that the OPs released the electricity connection in the name of the complainant bearing account No.MA50/033100P. As per the record of the office, the meter was found in working order. It has been further pleaded that due to non payment of electricity bill of Rs.7552/-, the meter was removed from the house of complainant during the month of January, 2007. It has been further pleaded that the OPs allowed the complainant to make the payment of electricity bills through installments of Rs.1000/- per month but he did not do so. Denying all the material allegations of the complainant and pleading that there has been no deficiency in service on their part and prayer for dismissal of the complaint with costs has been made.  

3.           Parties led evidence in support of their contentions.

4.           We have heard the authorized representative of the complainant and the Government Pleader for OPs and have also perused the record.

5.           The authorized representative of the complainant contended that the meter of the complainant became defective in the year 2006. The OPs were sending the electricity bills on the higher side from May, 2006 to July, 2006. The complainant was made a complaint to the SDO of the OPs, who in turn, reduced the bill amount of Rs.3223/- to Rs.1000/-.

              It was also contended that the OPs removed the meter as it was not working properly and, thereafter, the electricity bills were issued, although no electricity was being consumed.

6.           The learned Govt. Pleader for the OPs raised the arguments that as per the record of the office, there was no defect in the meter. That due to non payment of electricity bill of Rs.7552/-, the meter was removed from the house of complainant during the month of January, 2007.

7.           It is an admitted fact that the complainant is the holder of electricity connection bearing account No. 508/MA50/033100P. The complainant has attached the copies of the electricity bills of Rs.3223/-, Rs.5214/-, Rs.7031/- at Page No.4,5 and 6 of the complaint. At page No.7 of the complaint, there is a request dated 15.11.2011 to install the electricity meter. The reminder dated 26.12.2011 is at page No.8. Besides this, the averments contained in the complaint has been supported by the affidavit of the complainant.

8.           The OPs have supported the contentions raised in the reply by way of affidavit of Sh.Raja Singh, SDO of the OPs. The OPs have also annexed the bill ledger account from 12.10.2011 to 12.12.2011 which did not pertain to the account in question. The SDO of the OPs had filed his affidavit, stating therein, that due to non payment of the electricity bill of Rs.7552/-, the meter was removed in the year 2007. The complainant has not filed any rejoinder to controvert that he is not liable to pay the amount of Rs.7552/- as claimed by the SDO of the OPs in his affidavit.

9.           The complainant has filed the present complaint with the prayer that the OPs may be directed to install the meter and besides this, the compensation of Rs.1 lac may be awarded.

10.         The Govt. Pleader during the course of arguments agreed to install the meter in the house of the complainant subject to deposit of outstanding dues. The said submission of Govt. Pleader appears to be genuine.

11.         As a result of the above discussion, the OPs are directed to install the meter in the house of the complainant forthwith subject to deposit of the outstanding dues of electricity by the complainant. The complaint stands disposed of accordingly. No order as to costs.

12.         Certified copies of this order be sent to the parties free of charge. The file be consigned.