(मौखिक)
राज्य उपभोक्ता विवाद प्रतितोष आयोग, उ0प्र0, लखनऊ
अपील संख्या-444/2009
जनता आयल इन्डस्ट्रीज बनाम उ0 प्र0 पावर कारपोरेशन व अन्य
माननीय न्यायमूर्ति श्री अशोक कुमार, अध्यक्ष द्वारा उदघोषित।
दिनांक: 02.09.2024
पुकारा गया।
प्रस्तुत अपील विगत 15 वर्षो से अधिक समय से लम्बित है। अपीलार्थी के अधिवक्ता अनेको तिथियों पर पूर्व में अनुपस्थित पाये गये तदोपरान्त विपक्षी के अधिवक्ता को सुनने के उपरान्त व पत्रावली पर उपलब्ध प्रपत्रों का परिशीलन करने के उपरान्त अंतिम रूप से दिनांक 01.02.2024 को निम्न आदेश पारित किया गया:-
‘’ पुकार की गई। अपील विगत 15 वर्षो में अनेकों तिथियों पर पूर्व में भी सूचीबद्ध की जाती रही, आज पुन: अपीलार्थी के अधिवक्ता अनुपस्थित है। प्रत्यर्थी की ओर से विद्धान अधिवक्ता श्री इसार हुसैन उपस्थित है। विद्धान जिला उपभोक्ता आयोग द्धारा पारितप्रश्नगत आदेश पूर्णत: सुसंगत है और उसमे किसी प्रकार के हस्तक्षेप की आवश्यकता नहीं है। तदनुसार प्रस्तुत अपील निरस्त की जाती है।‘’
उक्त आदेश के विरूद्ध माननीय राष्ट्रीय उपभोक्ता आयोग के समक्ष यदपि अपील प्रस्तुत की जा सकती थी जिसे प्रस्तुत न करते हुये अपीलार्थी द्धारा माननीय उच्च न्यायालय के समक्ष रिट सी नं0-18846/2024 प्रस्तुत की गई जिसमे माननीय उच्च न्यायालय द्धारा दिनांक 30.05.2024 को निम्न आदेश पारित किया गया:-
- Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned counsel for the Electricity Department (respondents No. 4 and 5), learned Sta Standing Counsel representing respondents No. 1 and 2 and perused the record on board.
- In view of the peculiar facts and circumstances of the present case and the order proposed to be passed hereinunder, this Court proceeds to decide the instant writ petition finally with the consent of the learned counsel for the parties.
- Petitioner has shown his grievance against order dated 1.2.2024 passed by State Consumer Forum whereby appeal No. 444 of 2009 filed on behalf of the present petitioner has been dismissed in his absence on the ground that appeal is pending since last 15 years and the counsel for the appellant is absent.
- Having considered the rival submissions advanced by the learned counsel for the parties and perusal of record, it is manifested that having been aggrieved with the demand notice issued by the Electricity Department, the present petitioner has approached before the District Consumer Forum, who has rejected the application moved by the petitioner. However, having been aggrieved with the order dated 13.2.2019 passed by District Consumer Forum, the petitioner has preferred an appeal being appeal No. 444 of 2009. The State Consumer Forum has dismissed the appeal, without according opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, with a simple observation that the order passed by District Consumer Forum is reasonable and does not require any interference.
- Perusal of order dated 1.2.2024 reveals that the State Consumer Forum has given a specific finding that appeal is pending since last 15 years, thus, prima facie, it appears that petitioner herein is not cooperating with the forum to get the appeal decided expeditiously. Learned counsel for the petitioner has tried to argue on merits of the case as well, however, at this juncture, it would not be befitting to consider the merits of the case as submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner. In my considered opinion, lack of an opportunity of hearing to argue the matter would affect the interest of the present petitioner adversely, therefore, one and a last opportunity should be given to the petitioner so that he may put his case before the appellate authority as per law.
- Resultantly, the instant writ petition succeeds and is allowed. The order dated 1.2.2024 passed by the learned State Consumer Forum is hereby quashed. The original appeal No. 444 of 2009 filed on behalf of the petitioner is restored to its original number and parties are relegated before the State Consumer Forum, who is hereby expected to decide the appeal within a period of one month from the date of production of certified copy of this order, which shall be filed by the petitioner on 3.7.2024.
- The appellant (petitioner herein) shall appear on the said date fixed i.e. 3.7.2024 with his written submission and other documents, if any, and he will not be granted unnecessary adjournments.
- Learned counsel for the petitioner has assured that his client will cooperate with the State Consumer Forum to get the matter decided within the stipulated period as directed by this Court.
- It is made clear that beyond the aforesaid period, the present petitioner (appellant) will not be accorded any opportunity to argue the matter before the appellate court.
माननीय उच्च न्यायालय के उपरोक्त आदेश के अनुपालन में प्रश्नगत अपील आज पुन: सुनवाई हेतु सूचीबद्ध है।
पुकार हुई। अपीलार्थी के अधिवक्ता आज पुन: अनुपस्थित है जबकि विपक्षी के विद्धान अधिवक्ता श्री इशार हुसैन को सुना। तदनुसार इस न्यायालय द्धारा पूर्व में पारित आदेश में कोई अनुचित अविधिक तथ्य नहीं पाया गया। अपील पुन: अदम पैरवी व सुसंगत तथ्य न पाते हुये निरस्त की जाती है।
आशुलिपिक से अपेक्षा की जाती है कि वह इस निर्णय एवं आदेश को आयोग की वेबसाइट पर नियमानुसार यथाशीघ्र अपलोड कर दे।
(न्यायमूर्ति अशोक कुमार)
अध्यक्ष
रंजीत, पी0 ए0,
कोर्ट न0-1
