SATYANARAYAN RATHI Vs. M P STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this complaint, under Sec.12 of the Consumer Protection Act, the complainant has sought compensation against the M. P. Electricity Board, for damage by fire to his stock, due to loose wires of the transmission line.

(2.) The brief facts as depicted by the complainant, Mr. S. N. Rathi, are that he is the proprietor of a saw mill, installed by him to earn his livelihood. He operated it with the help of two- three labourers. He also appointed two watchmen, one for the day time and the other for night. He was provided with an electric power connection by the M. P. Electricity Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board ). The 11kv transmission electric power line of the Board passed through his plot. The wires of the high-tension line were loose and whenever there was a strong breeze, they dashed against one another and caused electric sparking. Since this was dangerous and could damage the saw mill and stock of wood, the complainant brought it to the notice of the engineers of the Board and requested them to either shift the said lines or tighten the wires. He made this request in writing in 1980, 1986 and 1999, but all his efforts went unheeded. On 26.5.2005, at about 2.30 a. m. at night, the wires of the high-tension line broke and caused sparking, resulting in fire. The stock of wood, kept in the premises of the complainant, was completely burnt. He suffered damages of Rs.50 lakh. He informed the Junior Engineer of the Board about the incident and prayed for compensation for the damages, to which there was no response. A police report was also made of the incident.

(3.) The complainant further states that he reported the matter to the Collector, Harda, on whose directions an inquiry was made by the Tahsildar, Harda. The Tahsildar confirmed the incident and damages in his report.