T ABRAHAM Vs. TELECOM DISTRICT MANAGER KOLLAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The short question which calls for consideration of this Court in this original petition is whether the Telecom District Manager has power to disconnect the telephone of a subscriber on the ground of default on the part of his relative.

(2.) The facts are not disputed. Petitioner is a subscriber to telephone Nos. 23 and 52 of Valakam Telephone Exchange, coming within the jurisdiction of respondents 1and 2 herein. The first number is installed at his residence and the second at his business premises. Admittedly, petitioner is not a defaulter in respect of either of these telephones. However, his daughter inlaw one Annamma Thomas was having a telephone connection as telephone no. 471771 at Madras when she was staying there in the year, 1987. According to the petitioner, that connection itself was disconnected after a period of six months. There seems to be arrears to the tune of Rs. 24,979/- in respect of that telephone. Ext. P3 order dated 23.6.1990 passed by the second respondent, the Accounts Officer (TR), Office of the Telecom District Manager, Kollam was issued to the petitioner. The contents of Ext. P3 is usefully quoted as follows:

(3.) This Court, on admitting the original petition, as per its order dt. 24.8.1990 in C.M.P. No. 1320/1990 issued a direction to the respondent to reconnect both the telephones. In obedience to the said order, petitioner submitted that, both the telephones have been reconnected.