Kupwara: In a landmark decision, the Consumer Court in Kupwara imposed a hefty fine of Rs 1 lakh on the Power Development Department (PDD) for issuing a frivolous electricity bill.
The case was brought before the court by Mr. Mohd Aslam Sheikh from Lolab, Kupwara, alleging that the department had falsely registered an agreement in his name, resulting in an exorbitant bill of Rs 50,000.
Mr. Sheikh appeared in person before the court and argued that the bill listed his details inaccurately, naming him as “Mohd Aslam Kataria, Son of Yar Mohd Kataria, Resident of Nad Kuligam Lolab,” whereas his correct identity is “Mohd Aslam Sheikh, Son of Yar Mohd Sheikh, a resident of Kataria Mohalla Kuligam.”
He asserted that despite repeated requests to rectify the error and register the electricity agreement under his name, the department failed to address his concerns.
Expressing shock over receiving a bill for the electricity he hadn’t utilized due to ongoing construction work on his house, Mr. Sheikh emphasized his attempts to communicate with the department to no avail.
Following initial arguments and testimonies from witnesses, the court directed the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Power Development Department (PDD) in Kupwara, along with the Junior Engineer (JE) and Inspector/Meter Reader, to compensate Mr. Sheikh with Rs 1 lakh for the mental distress caused by the erroneous billing and the ensuing ordeal. Additionally, the department was instructed to refund Rs 2600, which Mr. Sheikh had deposited as electricity fees in recent months.
The bench, comprising Hon’ble President of the District Consumer Commission Kupwara, Peerzada Qousar Hussain, and Hon’ble Member Miss Nyla Yaseen, underscored the importance of consumer rights and issued a stern warning against frivolous practices by service providers.
