C E S C LTD Vs. MANGILAL PAREKH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal by the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation against the decision of the Forum directing it to restore supply of electricity to the petitioner within a period of 15 days. The Forum directed the appellant to pay a sum of rupees 2,000/- as compensation.

(2.) The petitioner is a consumer of electricity and he receives supply in his premises through a meter installed in a portion of the building, which had been let out to another. The petitioner has all along been paying electric bills regularly till May, 1998. But on 24.6.1998 the supply of electricity was disconnected. On inquiry he came to learn that the supply has been disconnected for pilferage of energy and he was asked to deposit a sum of rupees one lakh for restoration of supply. The petitioner's age is about 80 years and he is suffering a lot because of non-supply of electricity. So, he has brought this action claiming compensation for the sum of Rs.1,50,000/- and for a direction upon the C. E. S. C. for restoration of supply.

(3.) The case was contested by the C. E. S. C by filing a written version. According to the opposite party the petitioner was guilty of tampering with the service apparatus, so as to by-pass registration in the meter and as such he was under charged for a pretty long time. On 24.6.1998 the pilferage was detected and the supply was immediately disconnected. The matter was reported to the police station and the petitioner was requested through letter of the same date to meet the C. E. S. C officer forthwith. But nobody turned up. Later a bill for the sum of rupees 3,992/- was sent to the petitioner towards unmetered consumption. They have denied other allegations.