West Bengal

Bankura

CC/79/2013

Angshuman Biswas - Complainant(s)

Versus

Station Manager, - Opp.Party(s)

Tapan Dey

06 Feb 2023

ORDER

     IN    THE   DISTRICT   CONSUMER   DISPUTES   REDRESSAL COMMISSION BANKURA

Consumer  Complaint  No. 79/2013

Date of Filing : 30.09.2013

Before:

1. Samiran Dutta                              Ld. President.      

2. Rina Mukherjee                          Ld. Member. 

3. Siddhartha Sankar Bhui            Ld. Member.

For the Complainant: Ld. Advocate Tapan De

For the O.P. Ld Advocate Kunnal Kanti Ghosh

Complainant                                                                                                          

Mr. Angshuman Biswas, Principal cum Superintendent, Leprosy Mission Hospital, Bodra, Junbedia,Bankura                                                                                                                                      

Opposite Party  

Station Manager, Schooldanga CCC, WBSEDCL, Junbedia, Bankura

FINAL ORDER / JUDGEMENT   

                                                                                                                                                        

Order No.42

Dated:06-02-2023

Hazira is filed on behalf of the Complainant through Advocate.

No step is taken by the O.P.

The case is fixed for argument.

After hearing arguments from the Complainant the Commission proceeds to dispose of the case.

The Complainant being the Principle -cum-Superintendent of Leprosy Mission Hospital, Bodra, Junbedia, Bankura has been enjoying electric connection under O.P. vide Service Connection No.37093/D-375 and Consumer I/D No.232020607 and the O.P. installed one new meter no. being ST609805 on 17-09-2007. The Complainant Establishment paid regular electric bills up to the Month of December, 2012 and during this period the average consumption was 1343 Units per month but thereafter the Complainant received bill dated:21-01-2003 for the bill Month January, 2013 to March, 2013 for Rs.16,29,946/- showing consumption of 2,25,788/- Unit. However for the bill Month April, 2013 to June, 2013 the consumption Unit was 5610 Unit and the Complainant paid the bill amount without any objection.

                                                                                                                                                                                          Contd…….p/2

Page: 2

On the basis of inspection report dt.25-04-2013 the old meter was replaced by the new meter no. being SF027784 and after installation of the new meter the O.P. issued bill dated: 04-07-2013 and the Complainant deposited the same.  After a long gap the Complainant received a revised bill dated: 09-09-2013 for the bill Month January to March, 2013 demanding Rs.11,85,515.28 in place of 16,29,946.00 as demanded by bill dated: 21-01-2013.

The Complainant has therefore raised dispute with regard to revised bill dt.09-09-2013 as aforesaid and sought for appropriate relief accordingly.

The O.P. contested the case by filing written version justifying the disputed bill dt.09-09-2013 and prayed for dismissal of the case.

The Commission has examined all the materials,  facts of the case including the documents on record and found that there was no problem with the Consumption of electricity under the previous meter and after installation of the new meter the Complainant had no problem with the Electric bill  received up to the  Month of December, 2012 but thereafter discrepancy arose with regard to the disputed bill dated: 21-01-13 for the bill Month January to March, 2013 where the consumption has been shown as 2,25,788 Units which appears to be excessive and whimsical. Prior to the disputed bill the consumption was 1343 Units per month. The Complainant has no occasion for consumption of excessive units in the hospital and the O.P. also could not show any material for such excessive consumption.

On arithmetical consideration of the consumption of units a man of common prudence is surely to come to the conclusion that the monthly consumption of 81895 units in the last quarter of 2012 cannot abruptly increase to 2,25,788 Unit for the first quarter of 2013. Whatever be the irregularities of the meter the O.P. should apply rational basis for calculation of consumption of electrical units and this case is a glaring example where the O.P. has acted arbitrarily and whimsically by raising the disputed bill dated: 21-01-2013 for Rs.16,29,946/- initially and subsequently revised to Rs.11,85,515.28 by bill dated: 09-09-2013 and as such inflated bill cannot be accepted in the eye of law and the O.P. should again revise the disputed bill       dt.09-09-2013 with the consumption units at par with the previous consumption for the year 2012 and taking into account the previous bills of consumption it comes to around 82,000 units.

The case succeeds accordingly.

                                                                                                                                                                                            Contd…..p/3

Page: 3                       

                      Hence it is ordered……

That the case be and the same is allowed on contest against the O.P.

The O.P. is directed to send revised bill for the consumption period January to March, 2013 with the average consumption of 82,000 units and the complainant is to pay the revised bill accordingly within three months from the receipt thereof.

The O.P.s are further directed to send electric bills henceforth to the Complainant on the basis of actual meter reading.

Both parties be supplied copy of this Order free of cost.

 

____________________                   _________________           _________________

HON’BLE   PRESIDENT           HON’BLE MEMBER       HON’BLE MEMBER