SHANKAR RICE INDUSTRIES Vs. CHHATTISGARH STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS appeal, under Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 , is directed against the order dated 5.9.2001 in Complaint No. 70/2000 by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Rajnandgaon (hereinafter called the District Forum for short) dismissing the appellant s complaint.

(2.) THE relevant facts stated in brief are that the complainant had obtained a electric service connection No. 9278 for his Rice Mill under the name and style of Shankar Rice Industries . It is not in dispute that initially the permitted load of the said connection was 75 HP. However, the complainant/appellant wanted to increase its capacity and wanted connection for 149 HP. He accordingly applied to the respondent Electricity Board for being given higher load. It is not in dispute that there was a vigilance inspection of the Rice Mill on 13.6.2000 in which machine having capacity of more than 75 HP were found installed in the Rice Mill. Therefore, additional bill of Rs. 22,247/ - was sent by the respondent to the appellant which has been paid by the complainant/appellant, under protest.

(3.) COMPLAINANT felt aggrieved by the additional bill as above. According to him at the time of inspection on 13.6.2000, by the officers of the respondent Electricity Board, the Rice Mill was closed. It was also averred that he never utilized higher load than the permitted capacity and, therefore, demand by additional bill of Rs. 22,247/ - was not justified.