JUDGMENT

The petitioner challenges Exts.P16 and P20 orders passed by the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum, Central Zone. The appeal against the same was rejected by the Electricity Ombudsman holding that the appeal was not maintainable. Through Ext.P16, the petitioner, who claimed the benefit of LT-VI D tariff in response to the short assessment notice issued by the Board, approached the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum which found that the petitioner Society is a Charitable Organisation providing service and assistance to inmates with dementia. It was found that the petitioner did not provide documents to substantiate that the Society qualifies as a charitable hospital/guidance centre under LT- VI D tariff and accordingly, the claim was rejected. Being aggrieved by the order of the Grievance Redressal Forum, the petitioner approached the Electricity Ombudsman which rejected the petitioner's claim through Ext.P20 order, finding that the petitioner can't be treated as a 'complainant' and at the outset, it is stated that the findings of the Ombudsman is clearly wrong as Section 2 (g) of the Electricity Act defines a 'Consumer' which reads as follows:-

“Consumer means any person