E.J. Bellie, President - The two officers of the Department of Telecommunications against whom an• award has been passed by the District Forum, are the Appellants. The complainant C. Vadivel is the owner of a telephone No.74526 in Erode Exchange. He received a telephone bill dated 11-7-1994 for Rs. 7,634/-. Contending that it is excessive, he preferred a complaint on 18-7-1994 to the Department. He was asked to pay Rs. 408/- towards the provisional bill and he paid the same on 26- 7 -1994. But he received a letter dated 14-11-1994 asking him to pay the balance of Rs. 7,226/- on or before 30-11-1994 to avoid disconnection. According to the complainant, he was using the telephone for household purposes only and he never used the same for business purposes. On account of his non-payment of the balance amount of Rs. 7,226/-, the telephone was disconnected. On these grounds the complaint has been filed.

2. The Opposite Parties contended that there was no defect in the meter. They contended that the complaint of the complainant was sent for investigation to the engineering authorities. The investigation report revealed that the meter and equipment were working without any fault. His