ABDUL KHALIQUE Vs. MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND POWER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The electricity connection in question is installed in a Nursing Home at Yamuna Vihar Shahdara, Delhi. Electricity bills as per the actual consumption were raised and paid by the petitioner up to October, 2004. Thereafter, the respondent, discom raised provisional bills without taking actual meter reading, though this is contrary to Regulation 21 of the Delhi Electricity Supply Code and Performance Standards Regulations. The petitioner made payment of the provisional bills amounting to Rs. 1,50,000/- as raised by the respondent, discom for the period October, 2004 till 31st March, 2006.

(2.) The petitioner in May, 2006 received a bill of Rs. 80,80,576.72/- towards electricity consumption. The said bill was subsequently revised to Rs. 6,76,200.29/- vide bill dated 31st May, 2006. The petitioner by way of the present writ petition has challenged the said bill.

(3.) The respondent, discom in their counter affidavit have admitted that incorrect bill for Rs. 80,80,576.72/- was raised. It is stated that this was on account of the fact that the meter had recorded very high and unusual consumption of 13,92,617 units as on 1st May, 2006. Thus, the respondent, discom have admitted that the meter was defective and, therefore, had recorded very high and unusual consumption of electricity. The contention of the respondent, discom is that the meter was not faulty up to 1st April, 2006 as the same was recording normal actual consumption till the said date. It is stated that on the basis of meter readings up to 1st April, 2006, the respondent, discom has raised a bill for Rs. 6,76,200.29/- for consumption of 78196 units from 11th September, 2004 to 8th August, 2005. It is stated that during this period the meter had recorded consumption of about 7100 units per month and the provisional bills were raised @ 2000 units per month, therefore, the demand of Rs. 6,76,200.29/- is correct and justified.