Consumer Court: BSES to pay for denying power connection

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Power distribution company BSES has been ordered by a consumer forum in Delhi to pay Rs 6,000 to one of its customers as compensation for arbitrarily denying him a separate and new electricity connection.

 The South West District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum asked BSES to pay the compensation to city resident Jaipal Singh, holding the firm guilty of “misusing its dominant position.”The forum termed as “vague” the firm’s reason for denying the consumer a new power connection that commercial formalities were not completed by him.

“We observe that complainant (Singh) had submitted the application in the prescribed format for installation of new connection along with the fees of Rs 3,600 and had also (attached) indemnity bond, ID card and copy of khatuani. We do not understand what other requirements the opposite party (BSES) wants from complainant.”

 “The stand taken by the opposite party is quiet vague, which shows the wilful intension of the opposite party… It is the misuse of dominant position by the opposite party which also amounts to deficiency in providing service,” the bench presided by Narendra Kumar said.

 Singh in his complaint before the forum had alleged that BSES officials tried to install an old meter when he had paid Rs 3,600 for a new one when he had applied for a separate electric connection on July 19, 2008.On his objection to the old meter, the officials did not provide him the electric connection and he had to resort to using an inverter, he had said.

 In its written statement, the discom had contended that the connection was not provided as commercial formalities had not been completed by Singh.

 The forum rejected the discom’s stand saying its act of denying power connection was unjustified and arbitrary and directed it to install a new meter within one month and to pay him Rs 5,000 as compensation for harassment and Rs 1,000 as litigation cost.

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