Lakshmikanta Santra v. The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited And ORS.

SM 19.02.2025.

WPA 584 of 2025 Sri Lakshmikanta Santra Vs The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited & Ors.

Mr. Pradip Paul Ms. Renesa Dey ... for the petitioner Mr. Debjit Mukherjee ... for the WBSEDCL The petitioner is aggrieved by an order dated 31st of May, 2024 passed by the Regional Grievance Redressal Officer, Paschim Medinipur. The impugned order records that if the petitioner is not satisfied with the order he may apply before the Ombudsman. The petitioner instead of approaching the Ombudsman has approached this Court by filing the instant writ petition. The Court is of the opinion that as there is a specific appellate provision, the petitioner ought to have approached the said forum prior to approaching the writ Court.

In view of the above, the instant writ petition is disposed of by granting leave to the petitioner to approach the Ombudsman, if so advised. In the event, the petitioner approaches the Ombudsman by 13th of March, 2025, the

Ombudsman shall consider the petitioner's appeal on merit without proceeding on the ground of limitation.

With the above observations and directions, the writ petition is disposed of.

There shall be no order as to costs.

All parties shall act in terms of the copy of the order downloaded from the official website of this Court.

(Rajarshi Bharadwaj, J.)