PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD Vs. HARCHARAN SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) It is an appeal against order dated 12.10.2000 of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Patiala (hereinafter called 'district Forum, Patiala' ). District Forum, Patiala vide its order dated 12.10.2000 has allowed the complaint and directed the appellants/opposite parties before the District Forum (hereinafter called the 'opposite parties') to consider the case of the respondent/complainant before the District Forum (hereinafter called the 'complainant') for grant of Tubewell Connection in preferential category of Freedom Fighter in Village Naraingarh Chhana treating the seniority from the date of application dated 26.12.1991 and in the light of the Circular dated 14.10.1996 and other relevant rules. The appeal has been preferred against this order by the opposite parties mainly on the ground that the application filed by the complainant was not within limitation and that the complainant was not entitled to take benefit of the application and to get the connection on the basis of application of Sham Kaur, his mother. The main points for consideration before the District Forum were as to whether the complaint was within time and as to whether the complainant had locus standi to file the complaint and as to whether the opposite parties had committed deficiency in service by not releasing the tubewell connection from the category of freedom fighters.

(2.) The abovesaid finding of the District Forum as has been reproduced above is upon cogent reasons. Before giving a verdict the District Forum had heard the parties concerned and had gone through the relevant record of the case.

(3.) Sham Kaur, mother of the complainant, had submitted an application vide A-A Form, copy of which is Ex. C-9. The application was submitted on 26.12.1991 and the Assistant Executive Engineer recorded a note as under : "at present A. P. cannot be allowed in urban area and consumer may be informed accordingly. "