Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Dec 17: Dakshina Kannada district consumer court, through an order passed relating to neglecting the request of one of its customers to severe electricity connection, not only imposed fine on Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd (Mescom) but also ordered it to reimburse expenses connected with the case.

Bayambady Lokanath Gowda from Kollthige village had filed an application with Mescom rural division seeking to withdraw the electricity meter provided to him and severe power connection. Since 2007, he had repeatedly approached Mescom's divisional office and handed over applications. In between, he had also complained about the meter belonging to him was being illegally and without authorization, utilized by another person. Mescom had failed to act on any of these applications.

Sometime later, Mescom officials suddenly conducted a raid and imposed fine of Rs 37,532 on Lokanath Gowda. Lokanath Gowda remitted Rs 18,499 to Mescom, and thereafter filed complaint with Dakshina Kannada Consumer Court. The court, which upheld his complaint, asked Mescom to refund to him the fine he paid earlier and additionally pay him compensation of Rs 10,000 for defective service, apart from another Rs 10,000 towards expenses incurred by Gowda.

Advocates, Girish Mali, Kumar S P, Geeta Rai, Jayashree B and Janardhana B had argued the case on behalf of the consumer.