ADDITIONAL BENCH STATE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, PUNJAB, CHANDIGARH.

Date of institution : 26.08.2024 Reserved on : 01.12.2025 Date of decision : 08.12.2025 Jiwan Latta aged about 58 years, wife of Shri Rajinder Kumar, resident of Saleran Road, Nearby Nange Shah Darbar, Chohal, Tehsil and District Hoshiarpur, presently residing at Ward No.15, Gali No.5, Mohalla Santokh Nagar, Hoshiarpur.

…..Appellant/Complainant Versus

1) Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd., through its Chairman, The Mall, Patiala

2) Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd., Sub Urban Sub Division, Hoshiarpur.

….Respondents/Opposite Parties First Appeal under Section 41 of the Consumer Protection Act 2019, against the order dated 01.04.2024 passed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Hoshiarpur in CC/191/2020 Quorum:-

Mr. H.P.S.Mahal, Presiding Judicial Member Mrs. Kiran Sibal, Member Present:-

For the appellant : Sh. M.S. Saini, Advocate For respondents : Sh. Ratik Kapur, Advocate KIRAN SIBAL, MEMBER The instant appeal has been filed by the appellant/complainant against the order dated 01.04.2024 passed by District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Hoshiarpur (in short, “the District Commission”), whereby the complaint filed by complainant against opposite parties (in short ‘OPs’), under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, was dismissed being devoid of any substance and merit.

2. It would be apposite to mention that hereinafter the parties will be referred, as have been arrayed before the District Commission.

3. The brief facts for the disposal of the appeal, as set out in the complaint, are that the complainant was having electricity connection bearing No.3001224660 and was regularly paying the electricity bills for consumption of the electricity units, which usually came upto Rs.2000/-. However, the OPs issued bill dated 27.07.2020 for the sum of Rs.71,810/-. The complainant further stated that earlier the OPs issued electricity bill dated 27.11.2017 for an amount of Rs.47,240/-. The complainant approached the OPs and made representation to send the bill after correcting the same, but no action was taken by the OPs. The complainant also moved applications dated 13.08.2018 and again on 25.03.2019 to do the needful, but the OPs instead of correcting the bill, disconnected the electricity connection of the complainant. The complainant further stated that she had to deposit an amount of Rs.25,000/- on 07.02.2018. Rs.25000/- on 26.03.2018, Rs.10,000/- in the year 2019, Rs.15,000/- on 16.11.2019 and Rs.25,000/- on 24.08.2020. Accordingly, she deposited a total sum of Rs.1,00,000/- with the OPs, but the OPs still sent the bill dated 27.07.2020 for an amount of Rs.71,810/-, which was illegal, unjustified, arbitrary and against the principle of natural justice. Alleging deficiency in service on the part of the OPs, the complainant filed consumer complaint before the District Commission and sought directions against the OPs to quash the bills dated 27.11.2017 and 27.07.2020 and to pay Rs.50,000/- as compensation for causing inconvenience, harassment and mental agony as well cost of litigation.

4. Upon notice, OPs appeared and filed joint written reply, wherein they raised certain preliminary objections, which are not required to reproduce here for the sake of brevity. On merits, the OPs stated that the complainant moved an application dated 04.06.2018 to the OPs qua challenging the meter as the same was running fast. However, she did not deposit the meter challenge fee. Thereafter, on 08.09.2018, the JE verified the site and found that eight families are residing in the said house and are consuming the electricity. The complainant again moved an application dated 25.03.2019, wherein she stated that she could not deposit the said fee and further alleged that some other person, had installed electric supply wires in her meter. As she did not deposit the requisite fee, no action was taken on the said application. Thereafter, the complainant agai