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1998 DIGILAW 595 (MP)

M. P. E. B. , Ujjain v. Satyanarayan Puskarlal

1998-08-13

R.D.VYAS

body1998
JUDGMENT This appeal is filed against the judgment and decree dated 11.04.1987 passed in Civil Suit No. 13-A/83 by Fourth Additional District Judge Ujjain thereby decreed the suit of the respondent directing the appellant/defendant to refund the amount of Rs. 7,323/- and directing the appellant not to disconnect the electric connection No. 5616 of the respondent/plaintiff. The case in short is that the employees of the appellant original defendant added Rs. 21,636.56 paise in the bill for the month of June, 1982 and asked the respondent/plaintiff to pay the same. Since the factory of the plaintiff, being seasonal, was closed from July, 1982 to January, 1983 and the plaintiff wanted to start the factory in February, 1983. In absence of the plaintiff, the appellant/defendant employees disconnected the electric supply on 1.2.1983. On asking for reconnecting the same the appellants told him to deposit Rs. 21,636.56 paise or atleast 1/3 thereof for reconnection. The plaintiff, therefore, deposited Rs. 7,300/- under protest and for testing the meter deposited Rs. 23/-. Again with the bill of February 1983 an amount of Rs. 14,801.51 paise was shown to be outstanding and threatened the plaintiff that if that amount is not paid by 26.3.1983, the electric current will be disconnected. The meter was to be tested by the electrical Inspector and the responsibility for that was of the defendant/appellant but the defendant/appellant did not get the meter tested and appropriate Rs. 7,323/-, therefore, the present suit was filed. On raising the issue and appreciating the evidence, the lower Court held that the meter was found to be defective and, therefore, the appellant was bound to get the same tested by the Electrical Inspector as per the provisions and since that was not done the appellant was not entitled to the recovery of money or disconnect the electric supply to the plaintiff. The lower appellate Court considered the evidence of the plaintiff and the defendant and held that the evidence of R.K. Singh (DW 2) had taken Pradeep Sate to the spot. Swaroopchand Jain was not present there. Basant Mahato has said that Serial No. 658277 was tested by him. According to him, the gear of counter train of that meter was broken and, therefore, meter was not reading correctly. He had, however, admitted in cross-examination that the gear which had broken was inside the meter, upon which there is a seal of appellant/Board. Basant Mahato has said that Serial No. 658277 was tested by him. According to him, the gear of counter train of that meter was broken and, therefore, meter was not reading correctly. He had, however, admitted in cross-examination that the gear which had broken was inside the meter, upon which there is a seal of appellant/Board. He admitted that the said gear cannot be tested from outside. The lower Court examined Ex. P/11 and P/12 and held that they are the meter cards. On his report Ex. D/4, there is no name or number of the consumer, therefore, the Court felt that it is very difficult to come to the conclusion that Basant Mahato had examined the meter of the plaintiff alone. The lower Court held that appellant had not got any enquiry made by the Electrical Inspector as per the provisions, though it is admitted by the witness of the appellant that the meter was defective then the subsequent drop or hike in the new meter cannot be expected to be given correct reading. There was no other possible means to assess the previous and current readings of the plaintiff's consumption. In such a way the only conclusion that the lower Court has reached was possibly that the recovery whichever made under compulsion for reconnection had to be refunded to the plaintiff. In that view of the matter, I concur with the findings and ultimate decree of the trial Court and confirm the same. The appeal thus deserves dismissal and is accordingly dismissed with no order as to costs.