JUDGMENT :

Vinod S. Bhardwaj, J. (Oral)

1. Challenge in the present petition is to the Award dated 29.04.2024 (Annexure P-8) passed by Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services), Panchkula on an application filed by respondent No.l under Section 22-C of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 .

2. Briefly summarized, the facts of the present case are that the respondent No.l a Print Media Company is a consumer of the petitioner-Distribution Licensee against Account No.8118740000. Due to COVID -19 pandemic in the month of March 2020 and the consequent lockdown imposed in the country, the working of the respondent No.l-consumer was greatly reduced for a couple of months to comply with the guidelines issued by the Government of India as well as the State Government. The restrictions imposed were, however, relaxed in the month of April, 2020. The labour and staff deputed by the respondent No. 1-consumer was reduced by 70% to 80%. The consumption of electricity also went down to about half of the usual consumption on account of restricted and limited functioning. In the month of January, 2020, the representatives of the petitioner-Distribution Licensee visited the premises of the re