MAHARASHTRA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD Vs. MADHAV NARAYAN TALE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal against the order of District Forum, Amravati dated 3.5.1994 passed in Complaint No.71/93. A complaint was filed by Shri Madhav Tale alleging the deficiency in the service of opposite party viz. Maharashtra State Electricity Board (for short M. S. E. B. ). The complainant alleged that he was presented a bill of Rs.138.05 for electricity consumption to be paid on or before 15.9.1992. According to complainant, he paid the aforesaid bill on 15.9.1992, however his electric connection was discontinued on 27.9.1992. The complainant also alleged that the aforesaid bill includes Rs.63.16 which he has already paid. The District Forum alleged that despite the payment of Rs.63.16 prior to the bill and the bill having paid on 15.9.1992, the M. S. E. B. is deficient in it, service in disconnecting the complainant's electric supply subsequently on 27.9.1992. The complainant therefore claimed compensation at the rate of Rs.100/- per day since 27.9.1992 till the date of restoration of electric connection. In reply, M. S. E. B. stated that the amount of Rs.63.16 was paid and the notice to that effect was issued to complainant. It is also stated that since there is no record regarding the payment of the bills, the electric supply could not be restored. Ultimately, it was restored on 9.12.1992. Thus the deficiency in the service has been denied.

(2.) We have heard Shri Panchal, the learned Advocate for appellant and respondent in person. It has been conclusively proved that Rs.138.05 has been paid by complainant on 15.9.92 and the M. S. E. B. has passed the receipt No.5995674, therefore, the disconnection of electric supply subsequently on 27.9.1992 in not justified. It is very apparent that complainant's electric supply was disconnected after he paid the bill on 15.9.1992. It is also a fact that Rs.63.19 was included in the bill of Rs.138.05/-. By the impugned order, the M. S. E. B. has been directed to remove the deficiency in the service of restoring complainant's electric supply and award Rs.100/- per day towards compensation from the date of order till the electric supply restored.

(3.) The M. S. E. B. contended in this appeal that although the complainant paid the bill of Rs.138.05 on 15.9.1992 in absence of correct information from the bank, the complainant's electric line came to be disconnected on 29.9.1992 and not on 27.8.1992 as alleged. In any case, the difference of two dates does not cause any change in the deficiency in the service of the M. S. E. B. In this appeal, the grievance made by the M. S. E. B. is that the complainant did not pay the bills regularly in respect of consumption of electricity and therefore the M. S. E. B. had to take action of disconnection of electric line. In case, in our view that it is not minimised the deficiency in the service of the M. S. E. B.