PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD Vs. TEK BAHADUR SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These three Revision Petitions arise from the orders dated 13.1.2003, 25.11.2002 and 11.3.2003 of the Punjab State Commission in Appeal Nos. 1655/2002, 507/2001 and 226/2003 respectively. In all the three cases, the State Commission held that the matter in apppeals is squarely covered by its decision in Appeal No. 540/2002 decided on 20.5.2002 and dismissed the appeals. As the facts are similar with some minor variations, we propose to dispose of these Revision Petitions by a common order after examining the order of the State Commission in Appeal No. 540/2002.

(2.) In all these cases the Original Complainants applied for electric connection to the motors to be installed on the tube-wells in their agricultural fields. However the electric connections were not released by PSEB in spite of repeated requests.The explanation given by PSEB is that the connections were not given because - (a) certain requirements of the demand notice have not been complied with, and (b) their turn has not come according to the separate seniority list maintained by PSEB.

(3.) In Revision Petition No. 1398/2003 the complainant applied for an electric connection for his tube-well as early as on 30.6.1986 by paying the registration fee. A demandotice was issued by PSEB on 9.7.1998 asking him to pay Rs.15,000/- which the compalainant paid on 8.10.1998. The complainant avers that he installed the tube-well and electric motor in October, 1998 itself spending Rs. 30,000/- which investment is lying idle since he cannnot use the tube-well or the electric motor. At the relevant time, PSEB regulations for the supply of energy to consumers included Regulations 26, under which an electric connection is required to be given within 2 months. It is argued by PSEB that this instruction was deleted on 11.7.2001. PSEB wants us to read this time limit is subject to availability of material like wires, etc. with the stores of PSEB. The District Forum has clearly brought out that the complainant approached the Forum on 6.11.2001 and the concerned officer of PSEB has put in a demand to the store section for releasing the material only on 17.1.2002 i.e. after the complaint was filed. So much for the concern of PSEB towards its consuemrs.