The District Shopper Disputes Redressal Fee, Chandigarh quashed a requirement raised by the electrical energy division of Chandigarh towards a authorities official, demanding Rs 1.23 lakh for a 15-year- outdated electrical energy invoice.
The complainant, Sanjay Popli, alleged that he was allotted home quantity 520 at Sector 11, Chandigarh, in 2004 with an electrical energy connection. Earlier than the allotment of the Sector 11 home, he was allotted home quantity 735 at Sector 7-C, which he vacated in December, 2003 attributable to his switch to Ferozepur. He delivered the possession after his switch and with out consuming any electrical energy from the meter on the a part of the complainant.
Popli stated in his criticism that to his shock, he acquired a invoice for the cycle from Might 28, 2019 of Rs 1,18,306 (together with Rs 1,06,432 as sundry costs) for the interval from February 25 to April 25, 2019 by which the outdated studying proven as 42,174 and new studying as 44,354 and as such consumption of two,180 items have been proven.
He added that the demand of sundry costs after a lapse of 15 years is against the law and arbitrary. Upon enquiry, he was knowledgeable that the defaulting quantity of Rs 48,681 have been pending since 2004 and annual surcharge was being added with none intimation to him. Popli alleged to not have acquired any discover relating to the pending electrical energy invoice, including that no objection was raised relating to the issuance of a brand new connection, as would have been the case in case of pending dues.
Popli’s counsel, Advocate Manoj Vashith, contended that as per the allotment guidelines and laws of the UT Administration, the holiday report of the vacated authorities home is just not issued to the worker till a no dues certificates from the electrical energy and water departments is issued.
The Govt Engineer, Electrical energy Division and SDO, Chandigarh Administration in reply submitted that although Popli utilized for issuance of an NOC and everlasting disconnection of the electrical energy provide on October 22, 2003, he continued to occupy the stated home until September 21, 2004 and solely vacated the premises after authorities initiated the proceedings below the Public Premises Act. They stated that he acquired the stated invoice of Rs 54,809 and acknowledged the legal responsibility by making half cost of Rs 6,000 on October 13, 2004.
The fee after listening to the matter and going by the data, held, “In our opinion that the demand raised by the OP in respect of any electrical energy due from a client after a interval of greater than two years is just not authorized and justified. Part 56(2) of the Electrical energy Act, 2003 clearly bar the demand and restoration of any such dues from a client after a interval of two years from the date when such sum turned due.” The demand was thus quashed and the electrical energy division was directed to pay a lumpsum quantity of Rs 15,000 to the complainant as compensation in addition to litigation bills.