KERALA WATER AUTHORITY Vs. RAJENDRAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners have filed this writ petition seeking the following reliefs:

(2.) The short facts necessary for our purpose are summarised as under. The 1st petitioner is a statutory autonomous body conferred with the duty of supplying water. The 1st respondent is a consumer. The 1st respondent was granted a consumer connection on 3-6-1985 with Consumer No. TWS 42 under the non domestic category. He approached the 2nd respondent Kerala Lok Ayukta by submitting Ext. P-3 petition complaining of arbitrary and illegal action on the part of the petitioners in disconnecting his water supply on the allegation that, he had not paid water charges, which according to him was demanded without any authority. The case of the 1st respondent was that, from April 1999 onwards, his water connection was remaining disrupted and that, he had not consumed any water as alleged. Callous negligence and illegality were alleged against the action that was challenged. The complaint was considered by the Upa-Lok Ayukta and an order Ext. P-4 was passed directing the petitioners to recompute the water charges due from the 1st respondent for the period from August 1998 to April 2003. It was further directed to restore the water connection on payment of the amount due as per the revised invoice to be issued on such recomputation. Since no action taken report was filed before the Upa-Lok Ayukta as directed, personal appearance of the petitioners was ordered by Ext. P-5. It was under the said circumstances that this writ petition was filed.

(3.) This writ petition was admitted and an order of stay of Ext. P-5 was granted. The said interim order is still in force.