by the learned counsel for petitioner. I also finds some substance in the reasoning forwarded on behalf of the petitioner. The practice of getting secure meter tested by its manufacturer has been deprecated as it amounts to making a person judge in his own cause. Secure Meters Ltd., the manufacturer of Secure Meter, is a pure and simple commercial undertaking. Its interest is to prove efficacy of its meters for augmenting its sale. This would be possible only by canvassing a system of metering which is tamper proof, pilfer proof etc. and generate confidence as much as possible. It cannot admit easily or at least cannot be expected to admit easily defect(s) in its meters, if any. Even if it finds something wrong, there is every possibility that being a private party, not accountable to any one, it may try to dispel charge on its own and make responsible someone else. It may be a good commercial undertaking but being solely private not accountable to the consumer or the licensee, testing of a meter by such a company and that too wholly ex parte and in a selfcontented manner cannot be imposed on a consumer by the Licensee. The action following the conclusion that a meter has been tampered etc. so as to record incorrect reading results in civil consequences to the consumer. The exercise, therefore, if not judicial is also not pure administrative. The procedure consistent with the principles of natural justice, therefore, would be attracted in such a case. No person can be made an Arbiter of a dispute when such person has its own interest in the matter. When there is a dispute regarding the meter whether it is correct or not, whether tampered or not, Meter Manufacturing company having its own interest in the meter, if allowed to adjudicate and that too conclusively on the question of tampering or tamper etc. that would amount to inviting a decision from a person having large commercial interest in the matter. It would hit the principle that no one shall be judge in his own cause. Even otherwise when the statute talks of an "independent testing laboratory" it does
