SAIYED ISHTYAQUE AHMED Vs. BIHAR STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD learned counsel appearing for the parties.

(2.) IN this writ application the petitioner seeks appropriate direction upon the respondents for restoration of electrical connection and to raise correct bill after adjusting Rs. 20,000/ - deposited by the petitioner pursuant to the condition imposed while granting anticipatory bail to him. It appears that a meter installed in the petitioners premises became defective in the year 1983 and since then bills were raised on the basis of fixed charged of 36 units per month. In 1996 the respondent Board by legal notice dated 14.6.1996 called upon the petitioner to pay the arrears of Rs. 16,414.00. Against the aforesaid notice the petitioner submitted his reply stating, inter alia, that the Board was repeatedly requested to replace the defective meter and to raise fresh bills after necessary correction but the meter was not replaced and fresh bills were not raised. However, it appears that in 1999 FIR was lodged against the petitioner alleging that although electric line was disconnected in the year 1995 and despite that the petitioner was committing theft of electricity.

(3.) ADMITTEDLY after lodging of the FIR no fresh bills has been raised by the respondent Board. It appears that the petitioner deposited a sum of Rs. 20,000/ - which was a condition imposed for grant of anticipatory bail in the criminal case initiated on the basis of FIR lodged by the Board.