High Court Kerala High Court

V.N.Achutha Kurup vs The Executive Engineer on 16 February, 2010

Kerala High Court
V.N.Achutha Kurup vs The Executive Engineer on 16 February, 2010
       

  

  

 
 
  IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

WP(C).No. 4932 of 2010(N)


1. V.N.ACHUTHA KURUP, LEKSHMI,
                      ...  Petitioner

                        Vs



1. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER,
                       ...       Respondent

2. THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER,

3. KERALA WATER AUTHORITY, JALA BHAVAN,

                For Petitioner  :SRI.B.S.SWATHY KUMAR

                For Respondent  : No Appearance

The Hon'ble MR. Justice ANTONY DOMINIC

 Dated :16/02/2010

 O R D E R
                       ANTONY DOMINIC, J.
              --------------------------------------------------
                  W.P.(C) NO.4932 OF 2010 (N)
              --------------------------------------------------
          Dated this the 16th day of February, 2010

                           J U D G M E N T

Petitioner is a consumer of water supplied by the respondents

with consumer No.40/392/D. According to the petitioner, apart

from himself and his wife there is nobody else in the house and

therefore the consumption of the water is minimal. It is stated that,

despite this, due to the fact that the meter went out of order long

ago bills have been issued adopting an unrealistic average, which

action according to the petitioner is illegal. In these circumstances

petitioner has made various complaints before the respondents

requesting for reduction in the bill amount, for replacing the meter

and also for revision of bills. However, according to the petitioner,

respondents have intimated that unless he pays the amount that

was already demanded, the meter will not be replaced. Last of such

communication received by the petitioner is Ext.P13. It is aggrieved

by the above that the writ petition is filed.

2. If as stated by the petitioner the meter is faulty, it is for the

respondents to take necessary action to redress the grievance

WPC.No. 4932/2010
:2 :

raised by the petitioner.

3. Having regard to the pendency of the representations filed

before the respondents I dispose of this writ petition with the

following directions.

As an interim arrangement the petitioner shall pay an amount

of Rs.10,000/- before the 2nd respondent. On receipt of such

payment, the 2nd respondent shall take immediate action for the

replacement of the meter installed in the premises of the petitioner.

It is also directed that the first respondent shall consider the

representations filed by the petitioner complaining of the exorbitant

bills that have been served on him. It is directed that before final

decision is taken on the representations, first respondent shall issue

notice to the petitioner and also hear him or his representative.

(ANTONY DOMINIC)
JUDGE
vi/

WPC.No. 4932/2010
:3 :