DELHI VIDYUT BOARD Vs. DEVENDRA SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Issue raised in the present petition is to the jurisdiction of the District Consumer Forum. State Commission and National Commission under the Consumer Protection Act. 1986 to entertain grievances against electricity supplying companies where action is initiated by the electricity supplying company on the allegation of theft/dishonest abstraction of electrical energy against the complainant.

(2.) Under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, 3 forums have been created. The District Forum, the State Commission and the National Commission. Jurisdiction of the District Forum is set out in Section 11 of the Act. Jurisdiction of the District Forum is to entertain complaints where the value of goods or services and compensation, if any, does not exceed Rs. 20 lacs. Jurisdiction of the State Commission as per Section 17 is to entertain complaints where value of the goods or services and compensation, if any. claimed exceeds Rs. 20 lacs but does not exceed Rs. 1 crore and appeals against orders passed by the District Forum within the State. Jurisdiction of the National Commission as per Section 21 is to entertain complaints where the value of the goods or services and compensation, if any, claimed exceeds Rs. 1 crore and appeals against orders of the State Commissions.

(3.) It is trite that power of the District Forum. State Commission and National Commission in exercise of plenary jurisdiction (excluding appellate jurisdiction) would be in respect of complaints. Section 2(c) of the Act defines the complaint as under: