BASANTIBAI Vs. M P ELECTRICITY BOARD INDORE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner Basantibai is the proprietor of Santosh Industries, D-11 B. C. Sector, Saver Road, Indore. She had obtained the service connection No. 192352 of 30 H. P. load for running an oil-mill. The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board (respondent 1) who is a licensee, had installed a meter for ascertaining the amount of energy supplied and consumed by the petitioner under the aforesaid service connection. The meter so installed is the property of respondent 1.

(2.) According to the petitioner on 18-2-1983 the meter got burnt and this fact was immediately reported to the respondent 4 an Assistant Engineer of the Zone in which the petitioner Industry is situated. On 1-3-1983 the petitioner was directed to deposit a sum of Rs. 433/- as the price of the meter and Rs. 44/- as connection charges. The petitioner deposited the aforesaid amounts on the same day. However, the respondent-Board failed to restore the electric connection by installing another meter even after the aforesaid deposit made by the petitioner, who on 5-3-1983, vide notice Annex-D called upon the respondents to restore the electric connection by installing another meter. However instead of restoring the electric connection the respondent 4 through a registered letter dt. 4-3-1983 Annexure-E called upon the petitioner to pay a sum of Rs. 12,346.10 paise as per the supplementary bill dt. 2-3-1983 Annexure F. The basis of the supplementary bill was that the meter was not recording the actual energy supplied and consumed as it was found that one phase was not working and the meter was running on two phases only. The petitioner was also informed that in case of non-compliance the electric supply would be cut off.

(3.) The petitioner by this petition challenges the letter dt. 4-3-1983 (Annex. E) and the supplementary bill dt. 2-3-1983 (Annex. F) as according to her this demand is illegal.