Smt. Sunita Saha v. West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited And ORS.

29th November, (AK) W.P.A 26168 of 2023 Smt. Sunita Saha Vs.

West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited and others Mr. Sanjib Kumar Mal Mr. A. Rayehandhuni Mr. Pushan Majumdar ...for the petitioner.

Dr. Madhusudan Saha Ray ...for the WBSEDCL.

1.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner's electricity connection for running the petitioner's hatchery business has been disconnected, allegedly due to non-payment of electricity charges. 2.

The petitioner is willing to pay such amounts and have the connection restored. However, the petitioner has sought some instalments.

3.

Learned counsel appearing for the WBSEDCL places reliance on certain documents, copies of which are handed over in court today, to indicate that there are serious allegations of suppression of material fact against the petitioner.

4.

It is submitted that the petitioner's father-in-law had left huge arrears of electricity charges, which are required to be paid by the petitioner for getting a

restoration of her connection in view of the nexus between the two.

5.

The WBSEDCL, it is alleged, has already intimated the petitioner to pay such dues for getting the reconnection.

6.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that he does not have instruction regarding any such communication.

7.

Be that as it may, since serious allegations have been made regarding non-payment of huge dues by the petitioner, it is beyond the scope of the writ court to decide such factual questions which entail detailed appreciation of evidence.

8.

In any event, since the regulations provide that the concerned Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO) is the appropriate forum to decide such disputes, WPA 26168 of 2023 is disposed of by granting liberty to the petitioner to approach the concerned GRO to have the disputes resolved.

9.

If so approached, the GRO shall decide all issues in accordance with law independently, without being influenced in any manner by any of the observations made herein, preferably within eight weeks from such reference being made.

There will be no order as to costs.

Urgent photostat copies of this order, if applied for, ] (Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya, J.) be given to the parties upon compliance of all requisite formalities.