Delhi High Court
Kaushalya vs Delhi Electricty Regulatory ... on 14 December, 2021
$~49
*IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
% Judgment delivered on: 14.12.2021
+ W.P.(C) 14265/2021&CM. APPL. 44952/2021
KAUSHALYA ..... Petitioner
versus
DELHI ELECTRICTY REGULATORY COMMISSION AND ANR.
.....Respondent
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the Petitioner: Ms. Kawalpreet Kaur and Mr. Haider Ali, Advocates.
For the Respondent: Mr. Sanjeev Mahajan, Advocate for respondent No.1 (Through
VC)
Mr. Subham Sharma, Advocate for respondent No.2 (Through
VC)
CORAM:-
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV SACHDEVA
JUDGMENT
SANJEEV SACHDEVA, J. (ORAL)
1. Petitioner seeks restoration of the electricity supply to the
petitioner's house i.e. jhuggi number M-1, Railway Colony, Gulabi Bagh,
Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi. Petitioner further seeks quashing of electricity
bills that have been raised in the sum of Rs.43,290/-.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner is a jhuggi
dweller and there is hardly any electricity consumption and the pattern of
consumption for the past shows a very negligible consumption.
W.P.(C) 14265/2021 Digitally Signed 1
Signature Not Verified By:JUSTICE SANJEEV
Digital Signed By:KUNAL SACHDEVA
MAGGU Signing Date:14.12.2021
Signing Date:15.12.2021 12:04:03 21:05
This file is digitally signed by PS
to HMJ Sanjeev Sachdeva.
3. She submits that from 23.12.2019, no bill was being received by the
petitioner till a bill was received in August, 2021, claiming an amount of
Rs.38,000/-, which has now gone up to Rs.43,290/-.
4. Learned counsel submits that no person had come to take the meter
reading and subsequently on 22.09.2021, the meter was disconnected and
removed from the premises.
5. She further submits that the petitioner has school going children,
who on account of ongoing pandemic, are attending classes through online
mode and because of disconnection of electricity supply, their studies are
being affected.
6. Issue Notice. Notice accepted by learned counsel appearing for
Respondent No. 1 and Respondent No. 2.
7. Learned counsel for respondent No. 2 submits that as petitioner is
raising a billing dispute, the same would be amenable to jurisdiction of
Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF).
8. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is
willing to approach CGRF, subject to petitioner being granted a temporary
pre-paid meter.
9. Learned counsel for respondent No.2 under instructions submits that
they have no objection to the same, provided petitioner pays some amount
towards the disputed bill.
10. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner, under the
W.P.(C) 14265/2021 Digitally Signed 2
Signature Not Verified By:JUSTICE SANJEEV
Digital Signed By:KUNAL SACHDEVA
MAGGU Signing Date:14.12.2021
Signing Date:15.12.2021 12:04:03 21:05
This file is digitally signed by PS
to HMJ Sanjeev Sachdeva.
scheme of Government of NCT of Delhi is entitled to free electricity upto
200 units per month and over and above that petitioner is willing to pay for
the electricity consumed. Accordingly, she submits that the petitioner shall
pay a sum of Rs.12,000/- in three equal monthly instalments. The first
instalment being paid within one week from today.
11. Petition is accordingly disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to
raise a grievance before the CGRF with regard to the electricity bills within
a period of four weeks from today.
12. Further, without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the
parties, Petitioner shall pay a sum of Rs. 12,000/- towards the outstanding
demand in three equal monthly instalments.
13. On petitioner paying the first instalment of Rs. 4,000/- and
complying with the other codal formalities, respondents shall grant a pre-
paid electricity connection to the petitioner.
14. It is clarified that this would further be subject to the orders to be
passed by CGRF.
15. Petition is disposed of in the above terms.
16. Order dasti under signatures of the Court Master.
SANJEEV SACHDEVA, J.
DECEMBER 14, 2021/NA
W.P.(C) 14265/2021 Digitally Signed 3
Signature Not Verified By:JUSTICE SANJEEV
Digital Signed By:KUNAL SACHDEVA
MAGGU Signing Date:14.12.2021
Signing Date:15.12.2021 12:04:03 21:05
This file is digitally signed by PS
to HMJ Sanjeev Sachdeva.
