Naresh Kumar Mahto v. The North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.1131 of 2024 ====================================================== Naresh Kumar Mahto S/o Jiwatch Mahto, Resident of Bypass Road, near Jiwatch Ji Petrol Pump, P.O., P.S. and Dist.- Samastipur. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd Through the Managing Director, Vidyut Bhawan, Patna.

2.

The Chief Engineer (Commercial), North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd, Vidyut Bhawan, Patna.

3.

The Chief Engineer (STF), North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd, Vidyut Bhawan, Patna.

4.

The Electrical executive Engineer, Electrical Supply Division Samastipur. 5.

The Assistant Electrical Engineer, Electrical Supply Division N.B.P.D.L, Samastipur.

6.

The Assistant Electrical Engineer (Revenue), Electrical Samastipur Supply Division N.B.P.D.L., Samastipur.

7.

The Junior Electrical Engineer, Electrical Supply Division, N.B.P.D.L., Samastipur.

... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Ranjit Kumar Yadav, Adv.

For Respondent :

Mr. Shrekant Sharan Singh, Adv.

For the State :

Mr. Vinay Kirti Singh ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. ABHISHEK REDDY ORAL ORDER 09-09-2024 Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

2. Without going into the merits or demerits of the case, having regard to the fact that the petitioner is having an alternative and efficacious remedy of approaching the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF) under Section 42(v) of the Electricity Act, 2003, this Court is not inclined to go into the merits of the present case. The present writ petition is disposed of granting the liberty to the petitioner to approach the CGRF, if

Patna High Court CWJC No.1131 of 2024(8) dt.09-09-2024 2/2 he is aggrieved by the wrong calculation in the electricity bill. In case the petitioner approaches the CGRF, the authority shall try to dispose of the case filed by him as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of 12 weeks from the date of receipt of the application made by the petitioner. It is needless to mention that before passing any orders, the petitioner shall be given an opportunity of hearing. Any order passed shall be communicated to the petitioner.

3. With the above direction, the present writ petition stands disposed of.

(A. Abhishek Reddy, J) Ayush/- U