T C A SRINIVASAN Vs. PROFESSIONAL COURIERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The complaint of the appellant seeking direction to the respondent who is a provider of electricity energy for not enforcing minimum payment rules because of the erratic electricity supply and also compensate the appellant for the loss of business suffered by him due to load shedding for 2 to 3 hours a day was dismissed vide impugned order dated 25.4.2001 passed by the District Forum. Feeling aggrieved, the appellant has preferred this appeal.

(2.) The appellant has an industrial shed allotted by DSIDC to the weaker sections of society at Khyala and is running a factory there. The respondent-DVB installed the electric meter for power connection and installed another meter for the use of light and charged rent and also enforced minimum payment rules. The allegations against the respondents are that it is having monopoly on the distribution of cheapest hydro-electric, thermal and nuclear power and gas based power. It sends bills after a gap of two months and also charges minimum charges in spite of the fact that supply has become totally erratic and is virtually in mess for the last 5-6 years as large scale theft of electricity is being indulged in by Jhuggi dwellers and big industrial units in collusion with the respondent. The appellant claimed that he never consumed electricity more than or equal to minimum slab imposed.

(3.) It is further alleged that there being rampant power cuts and sometimes no power supply for 12 hours at a stretch and on account of load shedding for 2 to 3 hours a day, has caused immense loss of his business and in the result, he could not pay the electricity bills which accumulated to the tune of Rs.2,33,672.