CHHATTISGARH STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD Vs. GAURISHANKAR KESHARWANI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These appeals involve common question of law, therefore, all these appeals are being disposed of by this common order. These appeals are directed against orders dated 22.11.2001 as detailed below: (i) Appeal No.454/2003 is against order in Complaint Case No.80/90. (ii) Appeal No.455/2003 is directed against order in Complaint Case No.81/1999. (iii) Appeal No.456/2003 is directed against Complaint Case No.82/1999. (iv) Appeal No.457/2003 is directed against Complaint Case No.58/1999. (v) Appeal No.458/2003 is directed against Complaint Case No.83/1999.

(2.) By the said orders the demand raised by the opposite party/appellant herein regarding fuel charges on the basis of audit report, has been set aside.

(3.) The undisputed facts in brief are that the complainants/respondents are consumers of appellant-electricity Board. Electric power was supplied by the appellant-electricity board to the complainants/respondents for their rice mills. The appellant used to issue periodical bills for the electricity consumed by the complainants/respondents from time-to-time, which were duly paid by them. However, the auditors of the appellant noted in their audit report that the fuel charges were not recovered from the respondents in the bills for the period from October, 1991 to March, 1995. The appellants, therefore, demanded payment of the sum towards recovery of fuel charges.