(1.) Heard. THIS petition under Sec.17 (1) (b) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 is directed against a interlocutory order dated 23.1.2004 whereby the District Forum, Churu has directed the appellant to restore supply of electricity energy on the electric connections of the respondents for domestic purposes.
(2.) The contention of the learned Counsel for the appellant is that before making such order the Forum should have directed for deposit of the entire amount, outstanding against the connection from which the respondents were obtaining electric energy for consumption in their respective premises and, therefore, by not doing so the Forum has failed to exercise a jurisdiction vested in it and/or exercised such jurisdiction with material irregularity.
(3.) The relevant facts are that the respondents, who are all Government servants, are the occupants of such Government accommodations to which the electric energy is being supplied from the main electric connection, installed in the premises occupied by the A. En. , P. W. D. It was alleged by the petitioner that a sum of Rs.62,063/- was outstanding against the main electric connection installed in the premises of the A. En. , P. W. D. and that he did not deposit the aforesaid amount despite repeated demands and issuance of notice. Their further case is that sub-meters in the premises occupied by the respondents had already been installed.