Tarak Pramanik v. Wbsedcl And ORS

AD-07 Ct No.09 18.05.2023 TN WPA No. 11735 of 2023 Tarak Pramanik Vs.

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. and others Mr. Biswabrata Basu Mullick, Mr. K.M. Hossain .... for the petitioner Mr. Sandip Mandal .... for the WBSEDCL Affidavit-of-service filed in court today be kept on record.

The petitioner has raised a strong issue as to the bill raised for electricity charges by the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) being patently and palpably erroneous. Placing reliance on Annexure P1 at page-13 of the writ petition, it is contended that the electricity connection itself was given to the petitioner on November 12, 2017, which is evident from the meter reading card annexed.

However, in the impugned bill dated December 02, 2022, all on a sudden the WBSEDCL has raised a bill of Rs.3,71,015/-.

It is rightly submitted that the previous reading date shown in the said bill is July 19, 2017, which is

impossible in view of the connection itself being given only on November 12, 2017. That apart, the present reading date, as appearing on the bill, is December 02, 2022, which is about five years after the previous reading date, which is itself suspect.

In such view of the matter, upon hearing learned counsel for the parties, it is palpable that the impugned bill dated December 02, 2022 annexed at page-14 (Annexure P2) of the writ petition is patently perverse and erroneous.

Hence, WPA No. 11735 of 2023 is allowed, thereby quashing the impugned bill dated December 02, 2022 and directing the WBSEDCL to raise a fresh assessment bill, disclosing therein the exact methodology and basis of calculation of raising such bill for the relevant period.

In the event the petitioner has any further grievance on such fresh bill raised by the WBSEDCL, if any, the petitioner will be at liberty to approach the concerned Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO) with such grievance. If so approached, the GRO shall decide the same in accordance with law, upon giving opportunity of heating to all concerned.

There will be no order as to costs.

Urgent photostat certified copies of this order, if applied for, be made available to the parties upon compliance with the requisite formalities.

(Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya, J.)