IN THE DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, MURSHIDABAD AT BERHAMPORE.

Case no. CC/17/2017

Date of filing: 14-02-2017                                                                                              Date of disposal: 13-11-2017

Complainant  -        Ahamada Khatun, W/O Janrab Sk.,Village & PO – Harishchandrapur,

                                   PS – Burwan,  District – Murshidabad, Pin Code – 742161.

VS.

Opposite Party  –   The Station Manager,

                                  West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd.,

                                     PO – Panchthupi, PS – Burwan, District – Murshidabad, Pin Code – 742161.                                                                    

 Present :  Sri Anupam Bhattacharyya,  - President

                                                    Smt. Chandrima Chakraborty - Member

                                                    Sri Manas Kumar Mukherjee - Member

FINAL ORDER

 Sri Manas Kumar Mukherjee,  Member.

This case has been filed by the complainant U/S 12 of C P Act’1986, praying for issuance of fresh bill, by WBSEDCL and payment of compensation and cost of litigation.

The case of the complainant, in brief, is that, the complainant, is the user of electricity meter, bearing Consumer no. ID 313101644, being an industrial connection.

The complainant received a bill, for the billing month January, 2017, amounting to Rs. 59,270/- only, which seemed to her, to be an improper one and hence, she approached the OP, for necessary rectification of the bill.

The complainant further stated that she was willing to pay the bill, but the bill should be rectified by the OP, before payment.

Hence, the instant complaint has been lodged before this Forum.

The OP, through its WV, stated, that, the complainant, all along is negligent, in paying her bills, for consumption of electricity. The bill generated for the month of December, 2016, shows, that there was an outstanding dues, amounting to Rs. 55,733.11 only. The bill, generated for the month of January, 2017, is an accumulated one, which has arisen, due to non-payment of bills, by the complainant, since long.

The OP further stated that the complainant paid an amount of Rs. 22,000 /- only on 13-10-2014, which had been her last payment, to OP, for consumption of electricity.

Upon pleading of advocates, of both the parties, the following points have been raised, for disposal of the complaint.

At the time of argument, the complainant stated that she repeatedly requested the OP to rectify her electric meter, but in vain. She further stated to have issued two letters to the OP, vide letters  dated 15-06-2016 and 08-04-2016, regarding rectification of her meter, but the OP deed not pay any attention, to her request, though she has not submitted copies of the letters, to the Court.

The OP denied, the statement of the complainant, that her meter was defective and further stated consumption of 384 units, is a normal consumption.

The OP further submitted, that the total outstanding dues of the complainant is Rs. 68,571/- as on 17-03-2017.

Points to be considered

1. Whether the complainant is entitled to get relief, as prayed for.

                                                                        Decision with reasons

To prove the case, the complainant, has filed evidence – in –chief, alongwith requisite documents, in support of hercomplaint. The OP has submitted WV, in support of its submission.

It is observed, that the complainant did not pay her bills, towards consumption of electricity, since long, due to some reasons or the other and the electricity authority is entitled to receive the payment, from the complainant, for the electricity, consumed by her, for a considerable period of time.

Hence,

ORDERED

that the Consumer Complaint no. 17/2017, is hereby allowed in part, instructing the OP to accept payment of Rs. 59,270/-, towards thedisputed bill, for the month of 1/2017, from the complainant, in 10 equal monthly installments and to check the electricity meter of the complainant and to replace the meter, if found to be defective, within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order,in default, the OPwill have to pay a fine of Rs. 50/- per day’s delay, and the amount, so accumulated, shall be deposited in the Consumer Legal Aid account.

Let a copy of this order be made available and be supplied free of cost to each of the parties, on contest, by hand, under proper acknowledgement / be sent, forthwith, under ordinary post, to the concerned parties, as per rules, for information and necessary action.