BSES to pay Rs 30,000 for not restoring power connection

Power distribution firm BSES has been directed by a consumer forum in New Delhi to pay Rs 30,000 to one of its customers for not restoring his power connection despite there being no pending dues.

Power distribution firm BSES has been directed by a consumer forum in New Delhi to pay Rs 30,000 to one of its customers for not restoring his power connection despite there being no pending dues.

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South-II District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum asked the power distribution firm to pay the compensation relying upon the bills of South Delhi resident SC Pahwa and saying that nothing was to be paid by him as of October 2010.

The discom should have "sympathetically and seriously" considered his case as he was suffering from various ailments, it added.

"We find a clear deficiency on the part of the opposite party (BSES) which did not consider the case of the complainant sympathetically and seriously, though he was a senior citizen suffering from various diseases.

"Therefore, we allow this complaint and direct it to resume the electricity connection of complainant as he has already paid all the dues of his previous connection," a bench presided by MC Mehra said.

The bench also asked BSES to pay Pahwa Rs 20,000 as compensation for "harassment, deprivation and inconvenience including mental agony suffered by him" along with Rs 10,000 as litigation charges.

Pahwa in his complaint had alleged that despite having cleared all his previous dues and having applied for a fresh power connection, electricity was not restored to his home.

The discom in its reply had contended that his connection was disconnected in 2008 over non-payment of dues and added that when he had cleared all the dues and applied for a fresh connection in September 2010, the same was installed and power supply restored within seven days after completing all necessary formalities.