Ref.: E&R/Press/2006/UGVC.2/05
The Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (Rural), Ahmedabad, has criticised
the management of the Uttar Gujarat Vij Co. Ltd. (UGVCL) for protecting
employees who `harass' consumers for personal benefit. It also asked
the company to take action against them for their `vindictive' approach
in disconnecting consumers' power supply, depriving them of their
livelihood. The Forum was giving its verdict on 22 December 2005 on
a complaint filed by an electricity consumer of Dhandhuka and Consumer
Education and Research Society (CERS), Ahmedabad, who won the case.
The Forum also pulled up the UGVCL staff for not following the regular
procedure in cases involving power theft such as taking photographs
and preparing panchnamas or rojkam.
Deciding on the complaint filed, the Forum ordered the UGVCL to restore
immediately the power supply to the aggrieved consumer, Laljibhai
Solanki, a self-employed resident of Dhandhuka and consumer of the
UGVCL, withdraw and set aside the Rs. 4.47-lakh penalty, and pay compensation
of Rs. 3000 to the complainants.
Earlier, Solanki had approached CERS, alleging wrongful disconnection
of power supply to his small-scale industry unit. He alleged that
he had been victimised and trapped in false charges of theft of electricity
on 31 March 2004 as he had refused unjust demands of K. J. Patel,
junior engineer of the Dhandhuka sub-divisional office of the UGVCL.
Patel had allegedly visited the premises of the consumer in his absence,
tilted the electronic meter in a right angle, where it stops recording
the energy consumed, disconnected the power supply, and removed the
meter and associated equipments.
The Forum, taking note of the allegation, criticised the manner in
which Patel and the meter testing laboratory staff of the divisional
office had carried out a number of overwritings and cancellations
in the meter testing report.
CERS discussed the issue with senior officials of the UGVCL and Gujarat
Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. (GUVNL), which failed to resolve the dispute
and instead transferred Patel to the Dhuvaran thermal power station.
CERS was left with no option but to file a case
before the Forum on 11 March 2005.
The case was successfully handled by K K Bajaj, Director of CERS,
and H. P. Motiramani, advocate. The Forum comprised Mr. V. C. Modi,
president, and Ms Nandini K. Thaker, Member.
Date : 05/01/2006
Pritee Shah
Place: Ahmedabad
Editor
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