DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM
SOUTH 24 – PARGANAS , AMANTRAN BAZAR, BARUIPUR,
KOLKATA-700 0144
C.C. CASE NO. _20 _ OF ___2018
DATE OF FILING : 22.2.2018 DATE OF PASSING JUDGEMENT: _16.7.2018_
Present : President : Ananta Kumar Kapri
Member(s) : Subrata Sarker & Jhunu Prasad
COMPLAINANT : Sankar Roy Chowdhuryt, son of late Dinabandhu Roy Chowdhury of Village-Bonhooghly-2, (Narendrapur Chakrabortypara), P.S Sonarpur, Pin-700 103.
O.P/O.Ps : Station Manager, WBSEDCL, Boral Branch, P.S Sonarpur, Pin-700 154.
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J U D G M E N T
Sri Ananta Kumar Kapri, President
The nub of the facts leading to the filing of the instant case by the complainant is that he is a domestic consumer of electricity from the O.P. Meter bearing no. L 2425982 was installed in his house on 12.11.2013. He has paid electric bill up to 26.7.2015. Thereafter, on 26.7.2015 it was detected by the employee of the O.P that he meter was defective and he was asked to deposit Rs.2,164/- for a new meter as quotation money. The quotation money was deposited by him by the complainant on 7.8.2015 . But no new meter was installed in his house as yet. So, the complainant has prayed for issuing a direction to the O.P for installing a new meter, accepting the consumption charge as per Regulation of Electricity, compensation etc. Hence, this case.
The O.P. made appearance in the case but has not filed any written version and , therefore, the case is heard exparte against him.
The petition of complaint is treated as evidence of the complainant vide his petition dated 12.6.2018.
DECISION WITH REASONS
Now to see whether the complainant has been able to substantiate any kind of deficiency in service on the part of the O.P.
It has been stated on affidavit by the complainant that his meter went defective, that he deposited Rs.2164/- for a new meter in terms of the quotation supplied to him by the O.P , that the new meter has not yet been installed in his house by the O.P and that the complainant has deposited the quotation money also stands substantiated by the receipts filed by him. A perusal of those receipts shows that the quotation money was deposited by the complainant with the O.P on 7.8.2015. The instant case is filed on 22.2.2018 i.e about two and half years after the deposit of the quotation money by the complainant. These evidences of the complainant have remained unchallenged and uncontroverted and relying upon these uncontroverted evidences of the complainant, we feel no hesitation to say that the long silence of the O.P in the matter of installation of new meter in the house of the complainant is nothing but a gross deficiency in service and for this deficiency in service not only the complainant but also the common people have to suffer a lot for the inaction of the Officer like O.P. He will have to pay compensation to the complainant for harassment and mental agony caused to him due to inaction of the O.P.
In the result, the case succeeds.
Hence,
ORDERED
That the complaint case be and the same is allowed exparte against the O.P with a cost of Rs.5000/-.
The O.P is directed to install a new meter in the house of the complainant within 15 days and not to give any effect to the electric bill dated 28.10.2017 for the period from May, 2015 to July, 2015 amounting to Rs.21,815/-.
He is directed to issue electric bill afresh for the period from 26.7.2015 till the date of installation ofnew meter in accordance with the prevalent regulation of the department.
He is further directed to pay a sum of Rs.10,000/- as compensation for harassment and mental agony caused to the complainant due to his long pending inaction, within a month of this order, failing which, the compensation amount and the cost amount will bear interest @10% p.a till full realization thereof.
Let a free copy of this order be given to the parties concerned at once.
President
I / We agree
Member Member
Dictated and corrected by me
President
