- (1.) THIS appeal, under Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 , is directed against the order dated 7.10.2003 in Complaint No. 402/2001, by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Durg (hereinafter called the District Forum for short).
(2.) INDISPUTABLY , the complainant has a telephone connection No. 222566 at his residence in Lane No. 28, Sector -10, Bhilai. It is also not in dispute that the said telephone connection of the complainant was disconnected on 25.6.2001.
(3.) THE averments of the complainant were that he raised grievance regarding telephone bill of Rs. 8,700/ - relating to the period from 1.3.2001 to 30.4.2001, as also the bill for Rs. 2,407/ - relating to the period from 1.5.2001 to 30.6.2001. According to him, the said bills were excessive. It was averred by the complainant that earlier since he obtained the telephone connection in February, 2000, the highest bill received by him was of Rs. 3,130/ - only. It was further averred by the complainant that out of 60 STD calls charged in the bill, relating to the period from 1.3.2001 to 30.4.2001, 55 STD calls were never made by him. It was further averred that he had locked his STD facility in his telephone, during the subsequent period from May, 2001; yet, the bill of Rs. 2,407/ - in which many STD calls were included, was sent to him for May -June, 2001. It was further averred by the complainant that though, he protested against the said bills, to the officials of the appellant, as also sent a letter to Deputy General Manager of the appellant and ultimately served the appellant legal notice dated 8.10.2001, but he did not get any response. Hence, the complaint. The appellant/telephone department resisted the complaint. According to them, the bills were for the actual reading of the calls made and were correct. It was also averred that the reading of calls made was recorded by the computer, which is an automatic machine. Thus, there was no possibility of any mistakes therein. It was also averred that it was obligatory for the complainant to pay the bills and since, he did not pay the bills his telephone was disconnected.;