West Bengal

Paschim Midnapore

CC/192/2017

Sri Shankar Mandal - Complainant(s)

Versus

The Station Manager, W.B.S.E.D.C.L. - Opp.Party(s)

Swapan Bhattacharya

24 Aug 2018

ORDER

DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM

PASCHIM MEDINIPUR.

                             

  Pulak Kumar Singha, President-in Charge,

                                                                                                             and

                                                                                              Sagarika Sarkar, Member.

 

Complaint Case No.192/2017.

 

Sri Shankar Mandal, S/o-Late Debendra Nath Mandal

at Vill & P.O.-Sitapur,  P.S.-Daspur,

                                                                                   Dist-Paschim Medinipur.                                                                                                                                               …………..Complainant.

                                                                                                  -Vs-                                                                                                                       

              1. The Station Manager, WBSEDCL,  Sonakhali CCC,  

           P.O.- Sonakhali, P.S.-Daspur,    Dist.-Paschim Medinipur,

2. The Chairman WBSEDCL, Bidyut Bhaban,

Salt Lake City, Kolkata-91.

                                                                                                         ...……….….Opp. Parties.

                                                  

              For the Complainant: Mr. Swapan Bhattacharya, Advocate.

              For the O.P.              : Mr. Debiprasad Das Mahapatra, Advocate.

                                                          

                                                                                   Date of filling : 30/11/2017                                                                                                             

                                                                                     Decided on   : 24/08/2018

                               

ORDER

                          Pulak Kumar Singha :– Complainant files this case u/s 12 of the C.P. Act. In short the case of the complainant is that the complainant is a consumer of O.Ps. and on 11/10/2017 in absence of complainant, some employee of O.P. no.1  entered the complainant’s premises and disconnected his domestic electric connection. On quairy from O.P. no.1, complainant came to learn that the elder brother of complainant, named Kamal Mondal theft electric connection as such O.P. disconnected complainants electric

                                                                                                                                                                Contd…………...P/2

 

 

( 2 )

connection. O.P. has illegally disconnected the electric connection as such O.P. has deficiency of service. Complainant appeared before this Forum for getting redressal as per prayer of his complaint.

O.P. contested the case denying the allegations of complainant, stating interalia, that on 11/10/2017, station manager of Sonakhali CCC alongwith S.A.E. and T.S.H. inspected the complainant’s premises and found one Kamal Mondal consuming electric energy unauthorisedly by way of hooking from near L.T.O.H. line of O.Ps. and running different electrical appliances by passing the energy meter No.L2850771 of complainant O.P. No.1  in presence of Kamal Mandal and others seized the electrical equipments and disconnected the electric connection of complainant. O.Ps. have no deficiency of service as such O.Ps. pray for dismissal of complaint.        

                                             Decision with Reasons.

                 We carefully gone through the case record, evidence and documents and considered the arguments of both sides. Fact of the case, that complainant is a domestic electric consumer of O.P. no.1. On 11/10/2017 Station Manager, S.A. E. and T.S.H. of O.P. no.1 on surprise visit and inspect the complainant premises and found that from the electric main switch by way of hooking and running different electrical appliances by passing the energy meter of complainant one Kamal Mondal using electric connection unauthorizedly to his new constructed building. Such persons of O.P. no.1 seized the unauthorized using electric equipments and lodged complaint  before concern police station and assessed provisional bill as per Electricity Act against Kamal Mondal and disconnected electric connection of complainant. Complainant  raised objection and denied the fact, rather filed this complaint  case for getting relief such as reconnected his electric connection and compensation for deficiency of service of O.Ps.

Complainant adduced evidence by filing examination-in-chief and submitted some documents which are marked exhibit 1, 2 and 3. Complainant also cross examined by O.Ps. O.Ps. also adduced evidence by filing examination-in-chief and OPW-1 is cross-examined by complainant.  It reveals that in the evidence of complainant, in cross examination of O.Ps. complainant stated that accused Kamal Mondal is his elder brother who has no electric connection in his newly constructed house and his house situated 10/20cubit and there is no house in between the house of complainant and the house of Kamal Mondal.  Complainant also admitted the portion of both the house in the photographs which are marked y for identification. Complainant also admitted in his evidence that O.P. has lodged F.I.R. against me and others, vide Daspur P.S. case no. 243/17dated 12/10/2017 u/s-135(1)(b) electric Act, 2003 and its amendment Act, 2007.

Contd…………...P/3

 

 

                                                                                               ( 3 )

It revels from the documents and evidence that one Kamal Mondal, elder brother of complainant used unauthorisedly electric connection from the LTOH line in the domestic premises of complainant bypassing the meter No.L2850771 by way of direct hooking  which has caught red handed by the authority of O.Ps. and such illegal Act causing huge loss of revenue of O.Ps. as the above number meter was unable to record proper consumption of electricity.  It is evident that Kamal Mondal, elder brother of complainant theft electric energy from the domestic connection of complainant for his personal use. It is common prudent that without permission and without knowledge of complainant elder brother of complainant cannot do such illegal act or theft which is a punishable offence as per Electricity Act, 2003.  O.Ps.  lodged case against both Kamal Mondal and also complainant and disconnected the electric connection of complainant.  O.Ps. also estimated provisional assessment bill and the send the same to Kamal Mondal who has not yet paid.

In view of the discussions here in above, we find that Kamal Mondal elder brother of complainant theft electricity by way of hooking by passing the electric meter of complainant with the consent and permission of complainant we find from the notification published in Kolkata Gazette, on 07/08/2013 by West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission, according to clause 4.2.1. without prejudice to the provisions of the act, the license may disconnect or cause to be disconnected the supply to a person and/or premises immediately  upon detection of theft or unauthorized use of  electricity  by an order by an authorized  officer as mentioned in subsection (1A) of section 135 of Electricity Act, 2003.

In view of above discussions we think that O.Ps. have no deficiency of service as such complainant is not entitled to get any order as per prayer of his complaint.          

                 In such circumstances complaint case has got no merit

                The complaint case fails.

                               Hence, it is,

                                                ORDERED

                         that the complaint case be and the same is dismissed on contest against O.Ps. without cost.

                                       Let plain copy of this order be given to the parties free of cost.

 

               Dictated and Corrected by me

                        

                        President-in-Charge                                                       Member                                

                            District Forum

                         Paschim Medinipur