Consumer’s request neglected: Mescom penalized, fined by Court

Team Udayavani, Dec 17, 2018, 12:33 PM IST

Puttur: Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd (Mescom) has been fined by the Dakshina Kannada district consumer court for neglecting the request of one of its customers to severe electricity connection. The Court has also ordered Mescom to reimburse expenses connected with the case.

The neglection

An application was filed with Mescom rural division by Bayambady Lokanath Gowda from Kollthige village, seeking to withdraw the electricity meter provided to him and severe power connection. Mr Gowda has been repeatedly approaching Mescom’s divisional office and handing over applications since 2007. Amidst this he had also complained about the meter belonging to him was being illegally and without authorization, utilized by another person. However, Mescom repeatedly failed to take any action on the applications.

The raid

After sometime, Mescom all of a sudden conducted a raid and imposed fine of Rs 37,532 on Lokanath Gowda. Mr Gowda also 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 for the case.

Advocates, Girish Mali, Kumar S P, Geeta Rai, Jayashree B and Janardhana B represented the consumer.