M/S BALAJI INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS LTD., RANCHI & ORS. Vs. JHARKHAND STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, RANCHI & ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this writ application. the petitioner has prayed for a direction on the respondents to energies/charge the second furnace installed in the factory of the petitioner for which he has already completed all formalities and also deposited security money etc. long back and for further direction on the respondents not to coerce the petitioner to take additional load of 1900 KVA (over and above its actual requirement and applied load of 5000 KVA) for which the respondents are coercing the petitioner for using the second furnace and also not to bill on the basis of unconsumed maximum demand and quash the monthly bill dated 5th Sept., 2006, which has been erroneously raised against the tariff notification dated 1st January. 2004 and Electricity Supply Regulations and to refund the excess amount of Rs. 6,00.000.00 (rupees six lacs) deposited against the said bill.

(2.) Learned counsel appearing for the Board raised preliminary objection and submitted that the disputes relating to the grievance(s) of the consumer can be agitated before the Electric Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum, Jharkhand slate Electricity Board, Ranchi, which is the statutory forum for hearing such type of disputes. It has further been stated that the petitioner's second furnace has already been energiesed on 1st Dec., 2006 on the condition to deposit of additional security and the petitioner has already undertaken to deposit the additional security for installment and as such, there is no urgency in the matter and that the controversy raised in this writ application can be heard and decided by the said forum.

(3.) Considering the said submissions, this writ application is disposed of giving liberty to the petitioner to approach the said forum raising all his grievances, as raised in this writ application, within a period of two weeks from today. If the petitioner approaches the said forum, its grievances shall be considered and decided on merit.