United Service Centre v. Wbsedc Ltd And ORS
08.12.2021 TN WPA No.14412 of 2021 (Via video conference) United Service Centre Vs.
The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited and others Mr. Prantick Ghosh, Mr. Siddhartha Sarkar .... for the petitioner Mr. Rammohan Chattopadhyay ....for the respondents Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that, despite the petitioner's electric meter lying defective during the relevant period, the Distribution Company raised exorbitant bills during the same time span. As such, learned counsel for the petitioner challenges the assessment made by the Distribution Company.
Learned counsel appearing for the Distribution Company, in his usual fairness, submits that, upon subsequent inspection at the behest of the petitioner, the Distribution Company's officials have found that the meter was, undoubtedly, lying faulty during the relevant period. As such, a reassessment has to be
made and a new bill to be raised by the Distribution Company.
In view of the matter being innocuous, no useful purpose will be sub-served in relegating the petitioner at this stage to the Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO), since the Distribution Company has taken a fair stand.
Accordingly, WPA No.14412 of 2021 is disposed of by directing the WBSEDCL to reassess the purported arrear bill of the petitioner and to intimate to the petitioner the fresh bill, after the reassessment is done.
Such entire process shall be completed within four weeks from date. It is made clear that, in the event the petitioner has further dispute regarding the bill, the petitioner will be at liberty to approach the GRO concerned to address such issue. It is further clarified that this court has not gone into the merits of the calculations regarding the bills. The WBSEDCL and its officials are restrained from disconnecting the existing electric connection to the petitioner's premises prior to the bill being reassessed.
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.)