West Godavari District Commission Holds Eluru Municipal Corporation Liable For Demanding Water Tax Even After Disconnecting Tap Supply

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, West Godavari, Eluru (Andhra Pradesh) bench comprising Sri D. Kodanda Rama Murthy (President), Sri S. Suresh Kumar (Member) and Smt. K.S.N. Lakshmi (Member) held Eluru Municipal Corporation and its Revenue Officer liable for deficiency in service and failure to verify its records. The authorities continued to send demand notices to the Complainant even after his tap supply was disconnected. The District Commission concluded that the Municipal Corporation was not entitled to collect water tax after the supply had been cut off. Brief Facts: Ponnapalli Rama Krishna (“Complainant”) obtained a tap connection in 1979 and has been paying a deposit of Rs. 1000/- ever since. Later, due to the mixing of drainage water with the tap water, the Complainant requested the Eluru Municipal Corporation to disconnect the tap connection. The Municipal Corporation duly acted on the request and disconnected it in 1996. However, the Municipal Corporation continue to charge the Complainant for water charges and issues 2-3 demand notices even after disconnecting the tap connection. Feeling aggrieved, the Complainant filed a consumer complaint in the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh (“District Commission”) against the Municipal Corporation and its Revenue Officer. The Municipal Corporation and its Revenue Officer chose not to file any written version before the District Commission. Observations by the Commission: The District Commission observed that the Municipal Corporation and its Revenue Officer were negligent in demanding the water tax even after the supply had been cut off. The District Commission noted that they failed to verify the records and wrongfully demanded the deposit. This constituted a deficiency in service on their part. Consequently, the complaint was allowed and the Municipal Corporation and its Revenue Officer were directed to not collect any water tax starting from the date of disconnection or in the future from the Complainant. The District Commission also directed them to pay Rs. 2,000/- towards the costs incurred by the Complainant. Case Title: Ponnapalli Rama Krishna vs Eluru Municipal Corporation and Anr. Case No.: C.C. No. 20/2020 Advocate for the Complainant: N.A. Advocate for the Respondent: N.AClick Here To Download/Read Order

West Godavari District Commission Holds Eluru Municipal Corporation Liable For Demanding Water Tax Even After Disconnecting Tap Supply

Smita Singh

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