This writ petition challenging an electricity bill was dismissed as not maintainable because an alternative statutory remedy of appeal before the Consumer Forum was available.
The writ petition was dismissed for lack of maintainability due to the availability of an alternative statutory remedy.
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
W.P.(C) No. 4033 of 2011
Raj Narayan Raj ….. Petitioner
Versus
….. Respondents
CORAM
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR
For the Petitioner: Mr. Jai Shankar Tiwari For the Respondents: Mr. Mukesh Kumar Sinha -----
12/11.11.2019 The present writ petition has been filed for quashing the electricity bill for an amount of Rs.1,34,348/- raised against the petitioner in purported compliance of the order dated 06.12.2010 passed by a Bench of this Court in W.P.(C) No. 5654/2010.
Considering the nature of the prayer made in the present writ petition and also keeping in view that the petitioner has got alternative/efficacious/statutory remedy of appeal against the impugned electricity bill as per the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 and the regulations framed thereunder before the Jharkhand Vidyut Upbhokta Shikayat Niwaran Forum, Dhurwa, Ranchi, the present writ petition is not maintainable.
The present writ petition is accordingly dismissed as not maintainable.
However, if the petitioner prefers an appeal along with an application for condonation of delay against the impugned electricity bill before the Jharkhand Vidyut Upbhokta Shikayat Niwaran Forum, Dhurwa, Ranchi within 30 days from today, the said limitation petition shall be considered liberally by the said Forum keeping in view that the present writ petition remained pending before this Court for a considerable period.
(RAJESH SHANKAR, J)
Satish/-
Raj Narayan Raj
Jharkhand State Electricity Board
Rajesh Shankar
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
