BEFORE THE PRESIDENT
DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTE REDRESSAL FORUM
GOMATI DISTRICT ::: UDAIPUR
CASE NO. C.C. 04 OF 2014
Petition filed U/S 12 of the Consumer Protection Act.
Shri Haradhan Dhar - Complainant
Versus
- Deputy General Manager,
Belonia Electrical Division.
- Senior Manager,
Belonia Electrical Sub- Division-Opposite Party
PRESENT
Shri Asish Pal,
PRESIDENT
Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum,
Gomati District, Udaipur
And
Shri Haridas Roy Barman
&
Smti. Runu Das (Roy Choudhuri)
MEMBERS
COUNSEL
For the Complainant - Mr. Manik Lal Saha,
Learned Advocate .
For the Opposite Party - Mr. S.K. Dutta,
Learned Advocate.
Date of Delivery of Judgment - 13.03.2015
J U D G M E N T
This case arises on the petition filed by one Sri Haradhan Dhar against the Deputy General Manager, Belonia Electrical Division.
.
2. The case of the petitioner, in short, is that the Consumer of Electricity regularly paying the bill for consumption of electricity. Prior to June 2012 the petitioner used to pay bill amounting to Rs. 85/- to 120/- per month. From the last part of June 2012 he began to pay Rs. 248/- to 292/- till November 2013. But suddenly in the bill of December 2013 exorbitant and imaginary bill was given for amount of Rs. 14,467/- which is imaginary and unexpected. The consumer complainant getting such bill became puzzled and went to the office of the O.P., Tripura State Electricity Board at Belonia. He was running a fair price shop and not in a position to pay the huge amount. But the O.P. refused to take any action. He did not feel any necessity for replacing the electrical meter which was showing abnormal consumption. In the month of January 2013 Rs. 1125/- was given. This is also not proper consumption. For such action of the O.P. the petitioner suffered huge pain and suffering, therefore, pray for compensation of Rs. 50,000/-.
- Respondent Deputy General Manager did not appear but Senior Manager appeared though filed no written statement, only cross examined the petitioner.
Petitioner side on the other hand, produced electricity bills for the month of January 2014, March 2014, April 2014, May 2014, December 2012, February 2013 and other bills of 2013. The impugned bill of December 2013 issued on 10.1.14 amounting to Rs.14,467/-. The petitioner also examined himself and also produced the statement of and affidavit of one witness and stated about the electricity boll of Rs.14,467/- which was abnormal.
- We have heard argument and now shall decide whether the electricity bill given by the petitioner is abnormal and liable to be declared for non payment.
- From the impugned bill, it is found that as per meter reading 2150 unit was consumed. It is at the rate of Rs. 570. The period is from 22.11.13 to 22.12.13. present reading was 4500 and previous reading was 2350. From the bill period of 02.10.13 to 26.10.13 it is found that reading was 2350 and previous reading was 2310. Only 40 units were spent in the previous month. So, meter reading is to start from 2350 which started from 2350 but consumption showed 2150. Definitely it is abnormal. In the next month the consumption is shown 177 units. The complainant stated that due to defective meter such thing happened but the respondent company did not take any step. However, from the bill of February to September it is found that average consumption is 39 to 40 units. The consumption cannot rise to such a stage of 2150 which is really abnormal. Respondent side the Tripura State Electricity Corporation submitted no evidence, no written statement to justify this abnormal hike of consumption in one month. Therefore, it is decided by this Consumer Forum that such meter reading by defective meter in the month of November to December is abnormal and against the interest of the consumer. The Electricity Corporation was required to change the meter and taken into consideration about this abnormal rise of electricity consumption. Therefore, the petitioner is entitled to get the redress from the Forum. The petitioner will pay normal electricity charge that he paid in the earlier month i.e. average 40 to 177 units paid in the next month. Total 214 units which is divided by 2 amounting to 57 units and pay the charge for 57 units for the period from 22.11.13 to 22.12.13. in the next month he will also pay units charge 57 units for the period from 22.12.13 to 22.1.14. The Tripura State Electricity Corporation did not take any step for changing the defective meter which cuased much harassment of the petitioner. Therefore, the petitioner is entitled to get compensation for deficiency of service amounting to Rs. 5000/- (Rupees five thousand), in addition to it. This Consumers Forum accordingly decided the dispute and hereby directing the respondent to allow the petitioner to pay electrical charge 57 units per month in the month of December and January and also directing the respondent to change the electrical meter immediately within seven days and pay compensation amount of Rs.5000/- to the petitioner.
- In view of my above findings over the point, the O.P. Tripura State Electricity Corporation, Belonia Electrical Division is directed to follow the above direction and pay the compensation amount to the petitioner.
7. The case stands disposed of.
8. Supply copy of this judgment to the parties at free of cost.
A N N O U N C E D
(Haridas Roy Barman) (Smti. Runu Das (Roy Choudhuri) (Asish Pal)
Member Member President
Consumer Dispute Redressal Consumer Dispute Redressal Consumer Dispute Redressal
Forum, Gomati District Forum, Gomati District Forum, Gomati District
Udaipur Udaipur Udaipur
