By Smt. Rajani.P.S, Member:
The complainant’s case is as follows: The complainant is a consumer of the respondents vide consumer No.368. He is a prompt consumer and has paid all the bills issued by the respondents properly. In the year the complainant’s meter was not working properly and had made a complaint to the respondents regarding this matter and as per their direction he purchased a new meter and tested and fixed. After which the complainant has paid all the bills properly. On 20.2.10 he has received a bill bearing No.191 dated 16.2.10 for Rs.43,020/-. In the bill it has been shown that the complainant has paid only Rs.884/- from the date 5/08. The complainant has paid all the bills issued by the respondents after the meter has been changed. The act of the respondents has resulted in great deal of financial loss and mental agony to the complainant. The act of the respondents amounts to deficiency in service and unfair trade practice. Hence the complaint.
2. The respondents are called absent and set exparte.
3. To prove the case of the complainant he filed an affidavit and produced Exts. P1 and P2 series documents.
4. According to the complainant, he is a prompt consumer of the respondents and has paid all the bills issued by the respondents properly. As his meter was not working properly new meter was fixed in the year 2008. After which the complainant has paid all the bills properly. But on 20.2.10 he received Ext. P1 bill for Rs.43,020/-. In the bill it has been shown that the complainant has paid only Rs.884/- from the date 5/08. The complainant has paid all the bills issued by the respondents after the meter has been changed.
5. There is no evidence to the contrary.
6. We have perused the petition given by the complainant to the respondents regarding the Ext. P1 bill even though it is not marked. In which he has stated that he resides in this house only during the vacation days and no one resides in this residence regularly. Hence the bill for such a huge amount is illegal. The complainant deposited an amount of Rs.14,340/- before the Forum as per order in IA.287/10. Ext. P2(a) shows that he remitted the water charges upto 9/09.
7. There is no evidence to the contrary.
8. In the result the complaint is allowed and the Ext. P1 bill stands cancelled. The complainant is at liberty to withdraw the amount deposited before the Forum.
Dictated to the Confidential Assistant, transcribed by her, corrected by me and pronounced in the open Forum, this the 9th day of February 2011.
