Rabindra Shiksha Sammillani Samiti And ORS. v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

10-02-2025 IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA Item No.7 ML Subrata Bhattacharyya Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side AR(C) WPA No.30138 of 2024 Rabindra Shiksha Sammillani Samiti & Ors.

-vsThe State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Debabrata Karan Mr. Debojyoti Karan Mr. Sankhasuvra Roy Mr. Debopriyo Karan ...for the petitioners Dr. Madhusudan Saha Roy ...for WBSEDCL 1.

The petitioners are aggrieved by the electricity bill raised by the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited.

2.

The petitioners submit that they are running an educational institution and have to be charged energy at a fixed rate of Rs.100 per KVA as applicable for educational institutions and hospitals. The authority applied the rate meant for commercial consumers (50 KVA and above) at the fixed charge of Rs.270 per KVA.

3.

It has been submitted that the same is intentional and vindictive attitude of the licensee in raising such high energy bill.

4.

The petitioners have made a representation through their advocate before the Superintending Engineer/Divisional Engineer. The same is yet to be decided.

5.

Upon hearing the respective submissions made on behalf of both the parties, it appears that the issue relating to billing dispute is to be resolved

by the Regional Grievance Redressal Officer as per clause 3.5.1 of Regulation 55. The petitioners are yet to make any application before the aforesaid authority for redressal of their grievance. The institution in question is without electricity since December 2, 2024.

6.

However, leave is granted to the petitioners to apply before the Regional Grievance Redressal Officer at the earliest.

7.

In the event such an application is made within a week from date, the same shall be disposed of by the RGRO in accordance with law at the earliest but positively within a fortnight thereafter. 8.

If the grievance of the petitioners appears to be proper, then necessary consequential steps shall be taken immediately.

9.

The writ petition stands disposed of.

10.

Since no opposition is called for, the allegations contained in the writ petition is deemed not to have been admitted by the respondents.

11.

All parties are to act on the server copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this court.

12.

Certified copy of this order, if applied for, shall be made available to the parties.

[Amrita Sinha, J]