Anupam Dasgupta, Member— This revision petition seeks to challenge the order dated 15.12.2009 of the Haryana State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Panchkula (in short, ‘the State Commission’) in First Appeal 1166 of 2002. By this order, the State Commission set aside the order of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Faridabad (in short, ‘the District Forum’) observing that this was a case of theft of electric energy and the respondent (Haryana State Electricity Board hereafter, ‘the Board’) could not be made to suffer financial loss due to such theft committed by the complainant.

2. The case of the petitioner/complainant is that he had leased out his factory premises in Ballabhgarh, Faridabad to one Udey Bir Singh. The petitioner complainant had obtained the electric connection to the said premises in his own name. The bills for consumption of electricity raised by the Board were paid by the lessee in the name of the complainant. The lessee, however, committed default in payment of electricity bills in July 1996. On 22.8.1996, the factory was inspected by a team of officers of the Board, which on verification of the electric meter and the installed equipmen