SUBHASH CHANDER Vs. PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The complaint of the complainant before the District Forum, in which he had challenged the demand of Rs. 9,040, was allowed by the impugned order dated 2.9.2004 and the demand was quashed.

(2.) This appeal has been filed on the premises that on the basis of the non-payment of the demanded amount the electricity connection of the complainant-appellant was disconnected on 20.12.2003 and was only reconnected on 25.3.2004. For about 86 days the complainant had remained without electricity and had suffered a lot but no compensation had been awarded.

(3.) The facts are that the complainant had an electricity connection in NRS category bearing account No. RK 44/0909L. However, a demand was raised in the sum of Rs. 9,040 on 9.9.2003 relating to account No. 44/0213 in the name of Shri Vijay Kumar. The case of the Electricity Board was that both these connections were in the same premises and were being used by the complainant. The case of the complainant was that if there was any demand against Shri Vijay Kumar qua account No. 44/0213 that could be realized from him and in case of non-payment the electricity connection bearing account No. 44/0213 could be disconnected. The connection in the name of Vijay Kumar had nothing to do with the connection of the appellant Subhash Chander bearing account No. RK 44/0909. Learned Counsel for the respondent however argued that both the connections were in the same premises and were being used by Shri Subhash Chander. Even if it is assumed that is true, no rule has been shown that for non-payment of certain charges against one account holder the same can be recovered or asked for to be paid by the other account holder in the same premises. For the non-payment of the demand raised against Vijay Kumar account No. 44/0213 electricity connection of the complainant really could not have been disconnected. The question that arises is that because of this reason i.e. non-payment of the demanded amount against account No. 44/0213 electric connection of the complainant was disconnected on 20.12.2003 which, according to us, could not have been done.