DISTRICT MANAGER TELEPHONE Vs. S S SODHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The respondent, Sh. S. S. Sodhi, has telephone No.24971 at his residence in Sector 36-B, Chandigarh and he had been paying his telephone bills regularly till the end of 1989 when to his surprise he received a demand for the payment of a bill of Rs.15,843/- for the two-months period 16.9.89 to 15.11.89. This bill reflected a total of 14190 (local) calls during the aforesaid two-months period whereas the subscriber contended that during the preceding two years at an average he had been paying Rs.1,003/- roughly for l/10th of the calls for which he was being asked to pay.

(2.) His representation to the Department was only partially successful. He received a revised bill for Rs.3,550/- for 4001 and some odd calls and the remaining 10,000 calls were treated as "disputed" ones. Subsequently he was informed that against the 10,000 "disputed" calls he was being allowed a rebate of 8000 calls - and was liable to pay an additional amount of Rs.2,293/- for the remaining 2000 calls.

(3.) Having failed to obtain satisfaction from the Telecom Department, the respondent moved the District Forum, Chandigarh, for the redressal of his grievance. The Department, the present appellant, took the stand that the two bills issued to the respondent were in accordance with its rules and the provisional bills were "logical, legal and not excessive" after allowing him a "suitable rebate of 8000 calls".