DELHI VIDYUT BOARD Vs. NARESH KUMAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) On account of deficiency in service inasmuch as the appellant company did not take any action for enhancement of the load as requested by the respondent for sufficiently long time and thereby causing loss to the respondent the appellant has been directed to pay compensation of Rs.5,000 besides Rs.1,000 as cost of litigation. The bills raised on the basis of inspection dated 26.3.1999, 30.3.1999 have also been quashed on the ground that the appellant failed to follow the procedures for enhancement of load.

(2.) Feeling aggrieved, the appellant-DVB has directed appeal.

(3.) Relevant facts, in brief, are that the respondent had two electricity industrial power connections of the load of 7.46 KW and 0.36 KW. In January 1996 he declared the load as 16.5 KW and deposited an amount of Rs.12,972 and in spite of this declaration the appellant failed to replace the meter and provide necessary service line. As a result the respondent dropped the idea of starting his business and made payment of bills upto March 1999. However on 26.3.1999 on inspection was made by the officials of the appellant and seals were found tampered with and hence a bill amounting to Rs.49,998 was served on the respondent. In order to avoid disconnection of the power the respondent made payment of Rs.28,200. Surprisingly another bill was received by him for Rs.1,48,700.71 and he made payment of Rs.18,200 in order to avoid disconnection. The aforesaid bills were raised on the basis of inspection made on 26.3.1999 and 30.3.1999.