BALDEV KRISHAN Vs. PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is an appeal filed by complainant -Baldev Krishan (hereinafter called 'the appellant') against the order dated 18.10.2005 of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Ludhiana (in short, the 'District Forum') by which the complaint of the appellant was dismissed by the District Forum.

(2.) BRIEF facts of the case are that the appellant was having domestic electric connection bearing A/c No. W41 CF75/0051K with sanctioned load of 16.10. KWs. He was paying regularly the consumption charges regularly. It was pleaded that in the bill dated 24.2.2005, demand of Rs. 1,30,779 as sundry charges was added by the respondent but no detail of the same was provided.

(3.) ON visiting the office of the respondent, R.A. amended the demand of Rs. 1,30,779 and reduced the same to the tune of Rs. 65,392 under his signatures on the bill itself. R.A. further informed that the said demand was raised on the basis of M.E. Lab checking report and the reason was 'slowness of the meter'. The above said demand was illegal as the mandatory provisions were not followed and, as such, he was not liable to pay the above said amount. It was the duty of the respondent to instal the correct meter and if the meter was slow or faulty, it was the duty of the respondent to prove that was due to appellant's mala fide intention or done by the appellant. The respondent raised the demand on the basis of M.E. Lab report but the removed meter was not packed and sealed in a card board box nor his signature was obtained. No notice regarding checking of the meter in the M.E. Lab was issued, which was mandatory as per instructions of the Board and respondent violated their own rules and regulations.