ACCOUNTS OFFICER THRISSUR TELEPHONES Vs. A A MUHAMMADALI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The opposite parties in O. P. No.762/94 of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Thrissur are the appellants.

(2.) The complainant is the subscriber of Telephone No.405 within the Mala Telephone Exchange. The dispute is in respect of the Bill dated 1.3.94 for Rs.1,980/-. The S. T. D. , I. S. D. facilities of the telephone were barred with effect from 14.3.92. The complainant protested against billing. He produced previous bills Exs. Al to A17 for the period 1.11.91 to 1.9.94 to show that the average was only Rs.500/- and in no case any bill has exceeded Rs.600/-. On 9.9.94 the 2nd appellant informed the complainant that his complaint has been rejected and the meter reading is correct. On this, he approached the District Forum claiming refund/compensation.

(3.) The opposite parties is their version contended that after serving the provisional bill investigation was conducted by the department and the report shows there was no authentical error in the meter reading and there is no defect in the meter or in the allied equipments. The Mala Exchange is having inter dialing facility to Chalakudy Annamanada, Kodakara and Pariyaram. It was further contended that as there is no error at all in the reading it is not mandatory on their part to refer the dispute to arbitration under Sec.7 (b) of the Indian Telegraph Act.