Smt.G.Vasanthakumari, President
Complainant’s case is that he was the resident in the Quarters No.E6 of Karunagappally police Quarters having the electric connection with consumer number 32, that the normal tariff of the complainant in the said quarters was LT-IA with an average consumption below 125 units, but on 24/02/2009 a bill for Rs.3,933/- was received by the complainant having a consumption of 774 power meters without any reason , that the complainant was not even using Fridge, Washing Machine, Grinder etc and so the complainant approached before the second opposite party and they did not inspected the matter, that thereafter he filed another application before the second opposite party to five installments, that since the children were studying he was forced to pay installments to avoid power cut by the Kerala State Electricity Board and thereafter this complaint against the said bill.
(2)
Opposite party entered appearance and filed version contenting that the complaint is not maintainable either in law or on facts, that the complainant has not availed the statutory remedy available before filing this complaint, that on 24/02/09 the spot biller visited the premises of consumer no.32 of Electrical Section, Karunagappally (South) and as usual served spot bill for 02/09 based on the reading recorded in the electric meter, that on the same day itself the second opposite party has got a petition from consumer no.32 represented by a lady stating that there would be some mistake in reading and hence energy bill of 02/09 is abnormal, that on getting the complaint the Assistant Engineer deputed the Sub Engineer along with Lineman to check the meter reading and meter performance, that they found that the meter is working with an indication in the earth fault indicator, that the static meter is manufactured with bi-carbonated covering material and the same has been fixed on a teak wood meter board so there is no chance of earth leakage at Kerala State Electricity Board metering equipment portion, that the staff when switched off the main switch they found the earth fault indicator turned off, that in an effort to search fault, they opened main switch and distribution board which have metal covering and there found the outgoing wire of distribution board in burned condition met in contact with the metal cover of the distribution board, that they are realizing the fault in an effort to avoid accident and abnormal meter reading the staff took timely action to cut and remove the burned portion of the wire and connected it to the terminal of the fuse of distribution board, that the problem and fault convincingly communicated to the lady who was present and watching those activities, that the petitioner again approached the second opposite party doubting the worthness of meter, that considering this request the second opposite party arranged to provide a tested meter as parallel meter to check the correctness of the existing meter, that the tested meter was provided on 27/02/09 and removed on 04/03/09 both in the presence of the petitioner / representative of the petitioner, that no difference is noticed in both meters and the same has been convinced by the petitioner also, that the same meter is existing there, that after convincing the fact and realizing the genuiness of the energy bill issued the complainant approached the second opposite party for installments and the Executive Engineer, Electrical Division, Karunagappally granted five installments, on the same day itself, that the complainant has remitted three installments up to 24/06/09 on due dates, that only
(3)
two installments amounting to Rs.1572/- is pending, that there was no negligence from the part of the opposite parties and the complaint is only to be dismissed.
The points for consideration are:
1. Whether there is any deficiency in service on the part of the opposite
Parties?
2. Compensation and cost.
The complainant was examined as PW1 and opposite party no.2 as DW1 and marked Exts.P1 to P3. The main allegation of the complainant is that no inspection was conducted on the complaint made by the complainant before the second opposite party and it is to be treated as deficiency of service. But according to the opposite parties they conducted enquiry on the complaint made by the complainant. Complainant as PW1 would swear before the forum that œñ¡Ä¢ ¨ˆ¡Ð¤·©¸¡þ œ¡ñòý »£×û ö®˜¡œ¢©µ¡ ? ö®˜¡œ¢µ¤. Further down he would swear before the forum that œù𠻣×û ©Ã¡ ‚©¸¡ù¤« ±œóû·¢´¤¼Ä® ? •ú¢ð¢¿. It strengthens the case of the opposite party that on getting the complaint, the meter was checked and found that the meter is reading with an indication of earth fault and found the outgoing wire of distribution board in burned condition met in contact with the metal cover of the distribution board and they cut and removed the burned portion of the wire and connected it to the terminal of the fuse of the distribution board and when the complainant again approached the opposite party doubting the earthness of the meter a parallel meter was provided on 27/02/09 and removed on 04/03/09 in the presence of the complainant and no difference is noted in both meters and the same has been convinced to the complainant. So the case of the complainant that on getting the complaint the second opposite party has not conducted any inspection is only to be discarded. More over, the complainant had conceded the fact that the excess bill was not the fault of the opposite party and approached the opposite party for installment payments and the opposite parties allowed the request of the complainant and three installments were remitted. It follows that there is no deficiency on the part of the opposite parties.
(4)
In the result, the complaint is dismissed but without cost.
Dated this the 16th day of June 2012.
G.Vasanthakumari :Sd/-
Adv.Ravi Susha :Sd/-
R.Vijayakumar :Sd/-
INDEX
List of witness for the complainant
PW1 - N.Ramakrishna pillai
List of documents for the complainant
P1 - Bill
P2 - Copy of complaint
P3 - Installment order
P4 - Electricity bills
List of witness for the opposite party
DW1 - Abdul Rasheed Kunju
