CONSUMER GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL FORUM NORTHERN REGION, KOZHIKODE. (Formed under section 42(5) of Electricity Act 2003.) Vydyuthibhavan, Gandhi Road, Kozhikode -673011 Telephone Number -0495 2367820 [email protected]

PRESENT

MEENA. S : CHAIRPERSON

E.R. SREELATHA SELVAM : MEMBER II

ROBIN PETER : MEMBER III

OP NO.59/2017-18

PETITIONER :

1 Sri. Vincent . C. P, Cheruvila Puthan Veedu, Erumamunda – P.O., Perumbathur, - 679334.

RESPONDENTS :

1. The Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, KSEB Ltd, Edakkara, Malappuram District.

2. The Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section, KSEB Ltd., Pothukallu, Malappuram District.

ORDER

Case of the Petitioner:-

The petitioner belongs to the Pothukallu Section of the Licensee. The house of his neighbour (Sri. Siddique) is located at the eastern side of his house. Electricity supply to Sri. Siddique was effected from the post situated at the property of another neighbour Sri. Niravath Babu. The above teakwood post was replaced by the licensee with a new pole but a bit away from the position of the old teakwood post and then erected a new post at the southern part of his boundary. A service wire was drawn from the above new post in order to effect connection to Sri. Siddique in such a way that the WP wire passes across his property. All the above activities were carried out by the licensee when the petitioner was out of his house as he was busy with his Official duties.

The petitioner brought the above matter before the notice of the Licensee and lodged a complaint in licensee’s On line Complaint booking cell. Two Sub Engineers of the section inspected the spot and convinced with the grave mistake on the part of the licensee.

The petitioner approaches the Forum as the licensee not yet come forward to remove the service wire from his property even after one month from the date of submission of his complaint on 11/05/2017. The petitioner alleges that whenever he contacted the Section Assistant Engineer, he was busy. The petitioner also demanded compensation for the losses sustained to him.

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Version by the Respondent:-

Sri. Siddique (Consumer No. 22301) Erumamunda – P.O., is a consumer of Electrical section Pothukallu and his service wire was connected to a wooden post (P/KE/8E) situated in the land of Sri. N.J. Babu, Niravath House, with his consent. The above dilapidated teak wood pole was replaced a few years back for ensuring safety. The span length between this teak wood pole (P/KE/8E) and adjacent post (P/KE/8D) was very high and to solve this problem, a new pole was installed at 15 M closer to pole P/KE/8D. The service wire was removed from the old post and connected to this new post situated at the north of the property of the petitioner. It is admitted by the licensee that they were unaware of the boundaries of the land and the fact that the service wire crossed the property of the petitioner could not be recognized in time as the terrain was extended over a large area without any fencing or any type of demarcation. The licensee was not aware that the small plot belonged to the petitioner. The licensee mistaken this portion of land as a continuation of land occupied by Sri. Babu whose consent was already given to the licensee. The matter was examined in detail and the complaint of petitioner was solved on 23-06-2017 by shifting the service wire to the post situated in the property of Sri. Niravath Babu. The respondent states that the above incident is not an intentional act but a mistake occurred from their part and they expressed regret for the inconveniences caused to the petitioner and the mistake may be excused.

Rejoinder dated 15/07/2017 by the Petitioner ;-

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The petitioner described the statement of the Licensee as ambiguous and misleading. The statement that the licensee could not distinguish the extent of boundaries of the petitioner is stupid and it is an attempt to justify the intentional mistake committed by them .The petitioner requests the Forum to award a compensation of Rs.10000/-from the respondent for the mental agony, expenses spent for getting expert advice, the travelling expenses, postage expenses etc.

Additional version by the Respondent dated 29/07/2017;-

By producing the paper cuttings of prominent news papers explaining natural calamity in the area, the licensee submitted that delay in resolving the issue was not intentional as the section staff were busy with restoration of electricity supply there. The data showing the extent of damages is also produced.

Discussion, analysis and findings:-

Hearing of the case was convened on 15/07/2017and 29/07/2017.

Having considered all the documents submitted and the deliberations during the hearing, the Forum has come to the following conclusions leading to the decision;-

As the reply given by the respondent turned unsatisfactory to the petitioner, a joint inspection with the petitioner was ordered by the Forum on 15/07/2017.The joint inspection was conducted on 17/07/2017.It is observed that the problem was solved by the licensee on 17/07/2017 by shifting the service wire from the property of the petitioner and the petitioner was also convinced about this.

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The Forum observed the following: 1) The replacement of the deteriorated Teak Wood pole, insertion of a new pole and shifting of the existing service connection to the inserted pole are the reasons for the grievance before the Forum. 2) The Respondents did not consider the request dated 11/05/2017 of the petitioner to shift the newly drawn service wire from his property. 3) In the course of hearing, the Respondent shifted the service wire from his property and thereby redressed the grievance of the petitioner. 4) The delay in attending the complaint dated 11/05/2017 of the petitioner was due to the engagement of the field staff in isolating the unsafe installations in the network to avoid electrical accidents and to restore the failed supply, following the natural calamity happened during the first week of May,2017. 5) The Respondent expressed his regret for the delay in redressing the grievance of the petitioner before the Forum in the presence of the petitioner. DECISION:- As the grievance of the petitioner is redressed by removing the Crossing of the service wire from his property, request for compensation is disallowed.

Dated this the 20th day of September , 2017.

Sd/- Sd/- Sd/- E.R.SreelathaSelvam RobinPeter Meena.S Member II Member III Chairperson. 5

Endt.on CGRF-NR/OP 59/2017-18/ 442 / 20 - 09-2017

Forwarded to:

1) Sri. Vincent . C. P, Cheruvila Puthan Veedu, Erumamunda – P.O., Perumbathur, Malappuram - 679334.

2) The Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, KSEB Ltd, Edakkara, Malappuram District.

Copy submitted to:

Chief Engineer (Distribution – North), Kozhikode.

Copy to: 1. The Secretary,KSEB Ltd., Vydyuthibhavanam, .

2. Deputy Chief Engineer, Electrical Circle, . 3. The Executive Engineer, Electrical Division, Nilambur.

4. The Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section, Pothukallu, KSEB Ltd., Malappuram, District.

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