Habibul Hossain v. State Of West Bengal & ORS

21.01.2021 Ct. No.23 pg.

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE WPA 4867 of 2020 Habibul Hossain Vs.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. K.K. Kar Mr. G.C. Patra ... For the petitioner Mr. Jahar Datta Mr. Jaladhi Das ... For the State Mr. Saurav Chaudhuri ... For WBSEDCL The petitioner complains of excessive bill raised by West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (hereinafter referred to as "WBSEDCL") in respect of the petitioner's supply given for operating a submersible pump. The petitioner refers to the bill dated 6th October, 2018 (at page 14 of the writ petition) and alleges that Rs.1,20,961/- cannot be the bill amount for the electricity consumed by the petitioner during the relevant period. A bill dispute has to be decided by the Regional Grievance Redressal Officer (in short, RGRO) in terms of the statute and the regulations framed thereunder. The petitioner is permitted to approach the concerned RGRO within 5th February, 2021 raising his grievances in respect of the bill dated 6th October, 2018.

In the event, the petitioner approaches the concerned RGRO, the said RGRO shall decide on the issues that may be raised by the writ petitioner which falls within his jurisdiction. The entire process has to be completed within a period of two months from the date of being approached by the petitioner after affording reasonable opportunity of hearing to the parties. The said RGRO shall pass a reasoned order and communicate the order within seven days from the date of passing of the same.

It is made clear that apart from the bill dated 6th October, 2018, the petitioner should pay and continue to pay the bills that may be raised by WBSEDCL.

Nothing remains further to be adjudicated in the writ petition and the same is accordingly disposed of without any order as to costs.

Since I have not called for any affidavits, the allegations contained in the writ petition are deemed to have not been admitted by the respondents.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, is to be given to the parties, upon compliance of necessary formalities.

(Arindam Mukherjee, J.)