Uma Devi @Uma Kumari v. The South Bihar Power Distribtion Company Ltd.,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.18544 of 2022 ====================================================== Uma Devi @ Uma Kumari Wife of Devendra Kumar, Resident of Srikrishnapuri Colony, Ward No. 06 P.S. Jehanabad District Jehanabad. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The South Bihar Power Distribtion Company Ltd., Vidyut Bhawan Bailey Road, Patna through its Chairman.

2.

The Chairman, South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. Vidyut Bhawan Bailey Road, Patna.

3.

The Managing Director, South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. Vidyut Bhawan Bailey Road, Patna.

4.

The General Manager (Revenue), South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. Vidyut Bhawan Bailey Road, Patna.

5.

The Electrical Superintending Engineer, Electric Supply Circle Jehanabad. 6.

The Electrical Executive Engineer, Electric Supply Division, Jehanabad. 7.

The Assistant Elecrical Engineer (Revenue) Electric supply Sub- Division, Jehanabad.

8.

The Junior Engineer, Electric Supply Cell, Jehanabad (W), Jehanabad. 9.

The Chairman, Consumer Complaint Redressal Forum Chandauti, Gaya, South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. Vidyut Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna.

10.

The Chairman, Electric Regulatory Commissioner, Bihar. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Harsh Anuj, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr. Vinay Kirti Singh, Advocate Mr. Vijay Kumar Verma, Advocate Mr. Akhileshwar Singh, Advocate ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P. B. BAJANTHRI ORAL ORDER 16-05-2023 In the instant petition, petitioner has prayed for the following relief(s):- "1. That this is an application for issuance of an appropriate writ(s), order(s) or direction(s) to the respondents to discharge the petitioner from the payment of the amount of interest and also for a direction to the respondents to charge only the amounts of actual electricity Bill since

Patna High Court CWJC No.18544 of 2022(5) dt.16-05-2023 2/2 payment was not made by the petitioner in time due to the fact that the matter was pending in different forums for final settlement of the grievance of the petitioner."

2. Short question for consideration is whether interest on the Electricity Bill could be waived off or not. For belated remittance of electricity bill, the concerned Electricity Company is empowered to levy interest on the belated payment of bills. The petitioner has failed to point out any provision of law so as to waive off the interest levied by the respondent.

3. During pendency of the present petition, the respondent company proceeded to disconnect the electricity connection, if it is so, the same shall be restored by the Electricity Company - respondent subject to payment of interest by the petitioner. The petitioner is at liberty to pay interest as demanded by the respondent company within a period of one week from today.

4. With the above observations, present writ petition stands disposed of.

(P. B. Bajanthri, J) shoaib/- U