IN THE DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM,

MURSHIDABAD AT BERHAMPORE.

CASE No.  CC /186/2014.

 Date of Filing:    30.12.2014                                                                         Date of Final Order: 17.03.2016.

Complainant: On the death of Usharani Chakraborty her legal hier-

                        Amal Chakraborty, S/O Lte Haripada Chakraborty,

                        Vill. 4, Dayamoyee Para, Saidabad, P.O. Khagra, P.S. Berhampore,

                        Dist. Murshidabad. Pin 742102

-Vs-

Opposite Party: Station Manager, Cossimbazar C.C. Center, 45, S. N. Bagchi Lane, P.O. Cossimbazar

                           Raj, Dist. Murshidabad. Pin 742103.

                       Present:  Sri Anupam Bhattacharyya   ………………….President.                                 

                                         Sri Samaresh Kumar Mitra ……………………..Member.            

                                                Smt. Pranati Ali ……….……………….……………. Member

FINAL ORDER

Smt. Pranati Ali, Presiding Member.

Brief fact of the complainant’s case u/s 12 of C. P. Act, 1986, is that the complainant /Amal Chakraborty is a consumer of the OP/Station Manager, Cossimbazar CCC for his domestic electric connection. The complainant stated in his complaint that original the electric connection was in the name of his mother/late Usharani Chakraborty, after her death, as legal heir he is the consumer and he used to pay regularly to the OP. Suddenly, the big amount bill was sent by the OP, so the complainant made complaint to the OP, but the OP did not pay any heed to the matter. The complainant became afraid of disconnection of his electric line. So, he came to this Forum for proper redress.

On the other hand the OP entered into this case by filing written version, where he denied the allegation of sending excess bill to the complainant and deficiency in service. The OP also stated that the connection is in the name of Usha Rani Chakraborty the reading of that meter was  taken on 25.01.2014 when it was fond defective and then the new meter was installed on 24.02.2014. Afterwards the OP sent the bills up to May 2014 to July 2014 to the complainant but he was unable to pay even the bill for the month of Feb, 2014 to April 2014, So the outstanding amount was increased Rs.585.68 for which the OP has no deficiency in service. So, the case is liable to be dismissed.

The only point for consideration is that whether there is any deficiency in service on the part of the OP or not and whether the complainant is entitled to get any relief or not.

                                                      Decision with Reasons.

It is pertinent to mention that the complainant has submitted Xerox copies of   letters and bills in support of his case.

Perused the record, we observed that the meter of the complainant was defective, which was detected and replaced with a new meter by the OP on 24.02.2014. The complainant’s allegation was that the bills received after new meter installation was high than previous bills, but the Xerox copies of the bills evident that present bills are low in unit consumption i.e  previous bills for the month of November, 2013 to January 2014 Feb to April 2014 shows that 116 units consumed, whereas after installation of new meter the bills for the month of May, 2014 to July 2014 consumed 20 units , bill for the month of August 2014 to Oct ,2014    consumed 78 units, bill for the month of Nov.2014 to Jan 2015 consumed 47 units and so on.

Documents shows that the complainant did not pay the bill amount for the month of Feb.2014 to April, 2014 and afterwards consecutive months bill were also unpaid. So the outstanding amount of the bills gradually increased.  Though these bills consumption units are low comparatively than previous bills. Yet there is no similarity of consumption but there is very ups and downs which is not normal for that type of consumer, who is a single senior citizen with only source of income from Govt. old age pension, who used to live in a single usable room of that old building with only one light and one fan in summer, which is minimum electric consumption,.

On the basis of above discussions and the materials on record, we are of the view that the complainant is entitled to get the disputed bills be corrected and fresh bills be prepared from the month of installation of new meter i.e month of Feb, 2014 on the basis of average units consumption giving slab benefit as well as giving benefit of pay the dues in installments.

Hence,

                                                  Ordered

that the Consumer Complaint NO. 186/2014 be and the same is allowed on contest without order as to cost.

The OP/Station Manager, Cossimbazar CCC, WBSEDCL is hereby directed to rectify the disputed bills from the month of the installation of new meter and prepare fresh bill on the basis of average units consumption giving slab benefit for the said period as well as giving benefit of pay the dues in installments and inform the complainant within 30 days from the date of this order. In default, the OP is to pay @Rs.50/- per day’s delay and the amount so accumulated shall be deposited in the Consumer Legal Aid Account.  

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