Manik Chandra Mondal v. The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited And ORS.

16.02.2024 mb W.P.A. No.24831 of 2023 with IA No. C.A.N. 1 of 2024 Manik Chandra Mondal Vs.

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited & Ors.

Ms. Sima Ghosh ...for the petitioner Mr. Sankar Banerjee ...for the WBSEDCL In Re.: IA No. C.A.N. 1 of 2024 1.

In view of sufficient reasons having been made out for the absence of the petitioner on the relevant date, C.A.N. 1 of 2024 is allowed, thereby recalling the order dated December 22, 2023 and restoring W.P.A. No. 24831 of 2023 to its original file and number.

2.

There will be no order as to costs.

In Re.: W.P.A. No. 24831 of 2023 3.

The writ petition is taken up for hearing on consent of both sides.

4.

The grievance of the petitioner is two-fold.

First, the petitioner alleges that the petitioner's electricity meters used for operating his submersible pumps were lying defective.

However, those been replaced during the pendency of the matter.

5.

The other dispute was regarding exorbitant bills being allegedly raised, which, according to the petitioner, are not in accordance with law.

6.

Learned counsel appearing for the WBSEDCL corroborates the submission of the petitioner to the extent that the defective meters have in the meantime been replaced.

7.

However, since the law provides a particular forum, that is, the concerned Grievance Redressal Forum (G.R.O.) to decide billing disputes, it would only be prudent to relegate the matter to the said authority.

8.

Thus, WPA 24831 of 2023 is disposed by granting liberty to the petitioner to approach the concerned G.R.O. with the billing dispute as raised in the present writ petition.

9.

Upon such reference being made, the concerned G.R.O. shall, upon giving opportunity of hearing to all concerned, including the present parties, decide the said dispute in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, preferably within six weeks from the date of communication of this order to the

Grievance Redressal Officer, by acting on a server copy of this order.

10.

There will be no order as to costs.

11.

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

(Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya, J.)