ORDER

Date : 14-02-2019 This order will dispose of all the writ petitions.

2. Heard Ms. G. Parmawi, learned counsel for the petitioners; Mr. R. Dhar, learned Govt. Advocate, Assam; and Mr. D. Bhattacharjee, learned Standing Counsel, Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL).

3. All the writ petitions have been filed seeking a direction to the respondents to pay compensation to the petitioners on account of loss suffered by them due to fire which according to the petitioners took place because of electrical short circuit due to negligence of APDCL authorities.

4. Petitioners are shopkeepers and owners of shop premises situated at Jaleswar Bazar under Lakhipur Police Station in the district of Goalpara.

5. A devastating fire broke out in the said Bazar on 24.07.2012 which gutted several shops causing severe loss to the petty businessmen having premises in the Bazar. According to the petitioners, fire broke out because of lapses on the part of the APDCL authorities. Because of such fire, they have lost everything and have been reduced to a state of penury. In this connection, petitioners had lodged first information on 25.07.2012 before Jaleswar Police Outpost.

6. Hence by filing the pre