Baramulla Consumer Court Orders Cancellation Of Fake Electricity Bills, Awards Rs.30,000 Compensation

The Baramulla/Bandipora District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission presided by Peerzada Qousar Hussain along with Ms. Nyla Yaseen as member has allowed a complaint against Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Ltd. (KPDCL) holding them liable for deficiency in service and negligence. KPDCL had issued false and multiple electricity bills in the name of complainant. While cautioning the department to ensure that no such multiple billings occur in future, the Commission directed them to cancel the erroneous bills issued and pay Rs.30,000/- as compensation to the complainant. Brief Facts Nisar Ahmed Lone (Complainant), complained that despite being registered under KPDCL with a valid ID no. and regularly paying electricity bills, he was issued an erroneously increased bill of Rs.23,964/- in 2018, even when he had already deposited Rs.10,000/-. As per the agreement, Nisar was liable to pay Rs.357/- per month. Later, in 20223, another inflated bill of Rs.1,30,373/- was issued in his name, which stated monthly charges as Rs.2,080/-. The complainant alleged that these bills were false and fabricated. In order to get these bills corrected, Nisar approached the opposite party's department for but instead of resolving the grievance, his electricity connection was allegedly disconnected. Further, two more bills were generated in Nisar's name under different consumer IDs for the same household. Aggrieved by all this, the complainant approached his district Consumer Commission for relief. Arguments by the KPDCL The department did not file any written reply before the Commission, even though the officer concerned appeared during the proceedings. Decision The Commission noted that the Complainant coming from a poor background, working as a labourer was unfairly burdened with false and erroneous electricity bills. The bench found that generating three different bills under different IDs against the same person and same household amounted to gross negligence and deficiency in service on the part of KPDCL. As a result, the bench ordered the department (KPDCL) to maintain a proper record of consumer billing, cancel other erroneous bills in the name of complainant, pay Rs.20,000/- as compensation and Rs.10,000/- as litigation cost to the complainant. The Commission also directed the department to ensure that no false bills are issued in the name of any consumer in future. Case Title: Nisar Ahmed Lone vs. Assistant Executive Engineer KPDCL & Anr. Click here to Read/Download the Order

Baramulla Consumer Court Orders Cancellation Of Fake Electricity Bills, Awards Rs.30,000 Compensation

Apoorva Pandita

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