DIRECTOR REGIONAL COMPUTER CENTRE Vs. GENERAL MANAGER TELEPHONES

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The complainant is a subscriber of Telephone No.531194 and he has alleged that for the period 26.7.92 to 25.9.92 the bill was for Rs.31.529/- including the rent in the sum of Rs.218/-, whether bill for the period 26.9.92 to 25.11.92 is in the sum of Rs.1,03,253/- and some ISD call as have also been debited on this telephone. This has been done by some unscrupulous elements in connivance with some employee of the telephone department. It has also been alleged that the telephone of a adjoining neighbourer Maj. Ashok Hannurkar (Telephone No.530976) is also subjected to similar irregularity by some officials of the respondent. There is a plea of misuse and mischief. It has been claimed that complainant should not be charged for a sum of more than Rs.2,000/-.

(2.) In reply filed on behalf of the respondent, it has been averred that the bills for Rs.31,529/- and Rs.1,03,253/- were correctly issued because the telephone had STD/isd facility and its extensive use could not be ruled out. At the same time, it has also been averred that both the bills were still under consideration and the results would be communicated to the complainant in due course.

(3.) The respondent was expected to investigate the allegations made by the complainant, but when Shri Piara Ram, an Accounts Officer of the respondent was examined here, he told that he could not contradict or confirm that the respondent department has detected instances where there had been manipulations pertaining to the STD of particular subscribers. So far as the bills of the complainant are concerned, this witness told that these were still lying in suspense since 24.2.93 and investigation was still pending. The bills in question pertain to the period ending 25.11.92. The complaint was instituted on 1.2.93. There is no justification for keeping the grievance of the complainant pending investigation for such a long time. This inordinate delay itself constitutes deficiency of service.