ISHAR SINGH Vs. PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is an appeal filed by appellant/complainant Ishar Singh (hereinafter called 'the appellant') against the order dated 6.6.2006 of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Amritsar (hereinafter called the 'District Forum') by which the complaint of the appellant was dismissed by the District Forum.

(2.) BRIEF facts of the case are that appellant filed complaint under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (hereinafter called 'the Act') pleading that electric connection No. SP42/0263 with sanctioned load of 19.03 KW was running in his chilling plant up to 2001. Thereafter he wanted to close the business of chilling plant and to dispose of the machinery Of the plant and wanted to install an Atta Chakki in that premises where the above said electric connection was running. He moved an application with the respondent on 9.5.2001. It was pleaded that he was running the chilling plant for earning self employment by employing two workers only. His application was accepted and he was allowed to deposit Rs. 200 as inspection fee of the Chief Electrical Inspector and fulfilled the requisite formalities. On 9.7.2002, officials of the respondent checked connected load of the electric connection. It was pleaded that his factory was not running at the time of checking but false case of. theft was planted upon him and he was forced to sign some blank papers despite unit was not working. The appellant had already moved an application with the respondent for the change of user of the said connection. It was pleaded that no report was prepared at the site and no copy of any checking report was handed over to him. His electric connection was disconnected and penalty of Rs. 29,867 was illegally imposed upon him.

(3.) THE above said demand was challenged by him by filing Complaint No. 974 of 2002 but lateron the same was withdrawn to file fresh complaint because the respondent gave details of arbitrary amount in its reply and he wanted to challenge those demands. Fresh complaint No. 913 of 2003 was filed but the same was also withdrawn with liberty to file fresh complaint after removal of technical defects in the complaint on 21.4.2004. Thereafter the complaint was filed on 9.7.2004. It was pleaded that the amount was being charged from him arbitrarily by the respondent on account of defective meter or without assigning any reason, which were as under: