Sk. Abdus Selim And ANR. v. The Chairman, West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited And ORS.

21.04.2025 Sl. No.9 Ct. No.15 S.A.

WPA 2085 of 2025 Sk. Abdus Selim & Anr.

-vsThe Chairman, West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited & Ors.

Mr. Shuvro Prokash Lahiri Mr. Abdus Salam Ms. Indrani Roy ...for the petitioners Mr. Srijan Nayak Ms. Rituparna Maitra ...for WBSEDCL The petitioners seek an electricity connection for their submersible pump sets. The learned advocate appearing for the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) submits that a sum of Rs. 2,71,321 is due from petitioner No. 1, while Rs. 2,47,932 remains outstanding from petitioner No. 2 as of December 31, 2024.

However, the learned advocate appearing for the petitioners disputes these figures. It is submitted that petitioner No. 1 has already deposited Rs. 93,600, and petitioner No. 2 has deposited Rs. 2,24,719. The petitioners challenge the amount claimed by WBSEDCL.

This Court is not in a position to adjudicate the dispute raised by the parties. Under Section 42(5) of the Electricity Act, 2003, a Grievance Redressal Officer has been appointed to resolve such disputes.

Accordingly, I grant liberty to the petitioners to approach the concerned Grievance Redressal Officer within 30 days from the date of this order. Should a dispute be raised in accordance with this order, the Grievance Redressal Officer shall adjudicate the matter after providing a fair hearing to both the petitioners and WBSEDCL within one month thereafter. If necessary, the Grievance Redressal Officer may conduct an inspection of the relevant meters in the presence of the parties.

Accordingly, WPA 2085 of 2025 is disposed of. Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the learned advocates for the parties on usual undertakings.

(Kausik Chanda, J.)