Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited vs Shri S.C. Mahendru

SUDHANSHU DHULIA, J. (ORAL)

The respondent is a licencee of Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited, which is petitioner before this Court. The dispute was regarding electricity

bill for the period between 15.03.2014 to 08.01.2016. On a complaint made by the consumer a check meter was installed, which according to the

petitioner, gave the same reading as earlier meter. However, the old meter was replaced by a new meter. The respondent/consumer was of the

opinion that the bill was excessive for that period and raised a grievance before the Grievance Redressal Forum. After installation of the new meter, it

was found that the reading of average monthly consumption during the last one year was much below. Accordingly, the Grievance Redressal Forum,

which is a statutory body and consists of three members, considering the reading of new meter as well as the statement of the Lineman that whenever

he had gone to the house of the private respondent, he found the premises locked and even when the electricity was disconnected, premises were

found to be locked, the Grievance Redressal Forum came to the conclusion that since 15.03.2014 due to “technical faultâ€, the meter which was

installed earlier was giving a higher reading, and therefore the Grievance Redressal Forum vide its order dated 07.03.2017 directed that for the period

between 15.03.2014 to 08.01.2016 the respondent was liable to pay the bills as per average reading of new meter No. 15679144. This order has been

challenged by the petitioner by means of present writ petition.

Considering that both the parties were heard by the Grievance Redressal Forum which consists of experts and which came to a conclusion after

considering all the relevant aspects, this Court cannot substitute its opinion over the opinion of the Grievance Redressal Forum.

Writ petition therefore fails and is hereby dismissed. It is also made clear that the amount which has been deposited by the respondent/consumer on

the direction of the Grievance Redressal Forum shall be adjusted in the electricity bills.