PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD Vs. JASBIR SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) It's an appeal against the order dated 27.12.1999 of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Amritsar (hereinafter called the District Forum ).

(2.) Brief facts stated in the complaint are that the electric connection No. KA 54/344 was installed in the residence of the complainant-respondent (hereinafter called the complainant ). He got the load of 5 KW enhanced to 9 KW on 21.9.1998 after depositing necessary charges for increase of load from 5 KW to 9 KW. Appellant-opposite party (hereinafter called the opposite party) ultimately had installed a three-phase meter at the residence of the complainant on 10.8.1999. The complainant had been making the payments of the bills regularly. He could not make payment of the bills for the period from 5/99 to 7/99 due to non-receipt of the bills of that period. Shri Anil Kumar, JE, managed to get DCO against the complainant due to non-payment of the bill pertaining to the period from 5/99 to 7/99. Some officials of the opposite party had visited the premises of the complainant with DCO for non-payment of bill of Rs.1,270/-. Illegal penalty of Rs.10,907/- was alleged to have been imposed upon the complainant at the instance of Shri Anil Kumar, JE. It is alleged in the complaint that the complainant was also detained in the Police Station from morning to evening. The complainant did not accept the validity of the penalty. Hence in the complaint filed before the District Forum, he asked for the following reliefs : " (i) To set aside the impugned penalty of Rs.10,907/-. (ii) To refund this amount with interest. (iii) Compensation of Rs.10,000/-. (iv) Rs.2,000/- as costs of proceedings. (v) Any other relief. "

(3.) Opposite party in its written statement alleged that the complainant had raised a complaint regarding the disruption in the electricity supply to his house No.309, Medical Enclave, Amritsar. His complaint was recorded at Serial No.265 in the Complaint Office of Ranjit Avenue, C-Block, Amritsar and his grievance was removed. When the staff of the opposite party had visited the house of the complainant to inform him regarding the removal of his grievance, it was detected that the complainant was commiting theft of energy vis-a-vis incoming wire in the terminal block connecting the ingoing wires directly with the incoming in the terminal block and that interference in the wiring was detected by the staff of the opposite party and theft of energy was detected. The complainant had raised a dispute and had manhandled the staff of the opposite party and also used abusive language. Thus, a complaint was also lodged in the Police Station. It was alleged that the demand of Rs.10,907/- was raised vide memo dated 14.9.1999, which was paid by the complainant on the same day. A prayer was made in the reply that the complaint be dismissed with costs.