DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS Vs. RAJ KUMAR BHATIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Telephone Department has come in appeal against the order dated 16.7.1996 passed by the learned District Consumer Forum, Hissar, whereby the complaint of respondent Raj Kumar Bhatia, subscriber of telephone bearing number 78510, lateron changed to No.79770, alleging deficiency in service against the Telephone Department has been allowed by awarding Rs.1,000/- as compensation alongwith Rs.500/- by way of costs on account of the illegal disconnection of the telephone.

(2.) The complainant had approached the learned District Forum, Hissar, with the grievance, that even though he had applied for the telephone connection without STD facility vide his letter dated 18.3.1992, yet the Telephone Department installed the telephone alongwith the STD facility. When he received the bills for the period 16.5.1993 to 16.7.1993 amounting to Rs.7,886/- and another bill of Rs.2,800/- for the later period, he represented to the Department. After waiting for some time, he filed the present complaint claiming compensation of Rs.50,000/-. In reply, the Telephone Department pleaded that at the time of his turn for the telephone installation for Non-STD group, the apparatus was not available and signatures of the complainant on the application for Non-STD connection were also not tallying. The learned District Consumer Forum considering the stand of the Telephone Department as untenable in law allowed the complaint by issuing the aforesaid direction.

(3.) In the appeal before us, the learned Counsel appearing for the Telephone Department has reiterated the earlier submissions, which the Telephone Department had taken before the District Consumer Forum.