DELHI VIDYUT BOARD Vs. GOPI RAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present appeal filed by the appellant, under Sec.15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act'), is directed against order dated the 6th December, 1999, passed by District Forum (North-West) in Complaint Case No.584/98 entitled Shri Gopi Ram V/s. The Executive Engineer, Delhi Vidyut Board andors.

(2.) The facts, relevant for the disposal of the present appeal, briefly stated, are that the respondent Shri Gopi Ram had filed a complaint before the District Forum under Sec.12 of the Act with the allegations that the meter installed at his premises bearing Electric Connection No. K. No. SB-505-139003-4102-DL, was not working properly as a result of which, he was getting inflated bills in respect of the abovesaid electricity connection for September, 1997; March, 1998; May, 1998; and June, 1998. It was stated in the complaint that the respondent had made an application for the replacement of meter on 24.6.1998 but the meter was changed by the appellant only in August, 1998. It was prayed by the respondent in the complaint that the old meter be checked /replaced and on the basis of the results, the bills in question be quashed and fresh bills be raised in respect of the period in question. The respondent also requested that the appellant be directed to pay to the respondent a compensation of Rs.10,000/- for mental agony and harassment together with cost of litigation amounting to Rs.5,000/-.

(3.) The claim of the respondent in the District Forum, was resisted by the appellant. The stand taken by the appellant was that the bills in question had already been revised and a credit of Rs.1,029/- had already been given to the respondent as a result of the revision of the bills. It was stated by the appellant, in the reply/ written version, that old meter installed at the premises of the respondent could not be tested as the respondent had not deposited the requisite fees.