SUNITA AGARWAL, J.

1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and perused the record.

2. The award passed by the Permanent Lok Adalat dated 26.6.2018 in PLA Complaint Case No.3 of 2016 (Raman Singh v. Divisional Engineer, Electricity Distribution Division-I & Anr.) is challenged on the ground that the Permanent Lok Adalat had no jurisdiction to entertain the claim petition. To substantiate this contention, the submissions of learned counsel for the petitioner are two folds:-

Firstly, it is contended that the claimant was not a consumer of electricity and, as such, the claim petition before Permanent Lok Adalat was not maintainable. Even otherwise, the dispute being raised by the claimant was of civil nature which was beyond the jurisdiction of the Permanent Lok Adalat. The assessment of compensation payable to the owner of the buffalo was subject matter of evidence which could have been adjudicated only in a civil suit.

Second submission of learned counsel for the petitioner is that the claimant owner was entitled to Rs.16,400/- only for the death of buffalo due to electrocution as per the Circular dated 3.2.2016. The claim was duly recommended by the Competent Authority but