C G STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD Vs. MANJULATA SHRIVASTAVA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) ORDER passed by District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Kabirdham (hereinafter called "District Forum" for short) on 10.3.2008 in Complaint No. 11 of 2007 is under challenge in this appeal by Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board (hereinafter "Electricity Board" for short) under Section 15 of Consumer Protection Act, 1986. By the impugned order the District Forum has directed for payment of compensation of Rs. 1,00,000 which also includes compensation of Rs. 10,000 for mental harassment, and also for payment of Rs. 700 as cost of the complaint.

(2.) IN nutshell facts of the case are that the respondent was having some agricultural land in Village Magrada, Dist. Kabirdham bearing survey No. 83 of 2002 in which a tube -well was digged for having facility of irrigation and electric motor was installed over that tube -well. Application was made to Electricity Board for electric connection on 13.2.2003 and necessary amount was also paid for such connection, but Electricity Board appellant herein failed to provide electricity connection to the tube -well of complainant till the date of complaint i.e. 6.8.2007. Then complaint was preferred before the District Forum. In written version the appellant/opposite party averred that there was no deficiency in service on the part of Electricity Board but in fact because of conduct of the complainant herself electricity connection could not be installed. When Electricity Board went to the field of the complainant for installation of electric supply poles in the specified fields and tried to instal such poles then some villagers came and demonstrated against such installation so in such circumstances electricity supply line could not be installed and electricity could not be supplied to the field of the complainant. It was not deficiency on part of the Electricity Board but was a law and order situation which was also reported to the Collector but even then the villagers continued there opposition and Collector and District Magistrate also noticing the grave law and order situation, directed the Board to stop the work of installation of poles.

(3.) LEARNED District Forum, considering rival contentions and material placed before it by both parties, then ultimately passed order against the appellant as stated hereinabove.