PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD Vs. JASWINDER SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) It is an appeal against the order dated 19.11.2001 of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Bathinda (hereinafter called the District Forum ).

(2.) Brief facts stated in the complaint are that the Government of Punjab had launched a scheme to provide electricity connections to the farmers for Toka Machine/fodder Cutting Machine for cutting of green fodder for their animals. The respondent-complainant (hereinafter called the complainant) had applied for the S. P. Toka connection under the above said scheme and had deposited Rs.1,500/- on 26.5.2000. After the receipt of the aforesaid amount of Rs.1,500/-, the appellant-opposite parties (hereinafter called the opposite parties) were duty bound to release the abovesaid Toka connection to the complainant. All the expenses for release of the abovesaid connection were to be borne by the opposite parties as per scheme of the Government. Opposite party No.2, vide its letter dated 9.10.2000 dismissed the claim of the complainant and did not release the Toka connection without any reason illegally and against law and facts without affording any opportunity of being heard to the complainant. A direction was sought in the complaint for directing the opposite parties to release the Toka connection to the complainant immediately and to pay him a compensation of Rs.10,000/- on account of mental tension, agony and physical harassment suffered by him.

(3.) On notice, opposite parties filed a joint reply. It was admitted in the reply that the complainant had applied for S. P. Toka connection and had deposited Rs.1,500/- on 26.5.2000. It was pleaded that the application of the complainant was rejected vide letter dated 9.10.2000 on the report of the J. E. , P. S. E. B. , Badal as there was no Dhani for the residence of the complainant in his agricultural field and the complainant wanted to instal the said electric connection beyond Abadi in his agricultural fields. After going through the record and after having heard the Counsel for the parties the complaint was allowed by the District Forum. District Forum had ordered the release of S. P. Toka connection to the complainant.