- (1.) BOTH these appeals arise from order dated 7.4.2004 rendered by the learned Surat District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in Case Nos. 532 of 2000 and 533 of 2000. Impugned order reads as under : "Case No. 532/2000. The opponents are directed to refund the amount of Rs. 5338.37 with interest @ 6% p.a. from 22.8.2000 to the date of payment. O.P. is also directed to pay compensation on account of physical hardship and mental harassment to the tune of Rs. 10,000/ -. The opponent is also directed to pay Rs. 1,000/ - towards the cost of litigation. Case No. 533/2000. The opponents are directed to refund the amount of Rs. 4,250.22 with interest @ 6% p.a. from 22.8.2000 to the date of payment. O.P. is also directed to pay compensation on account of physical hardship and mental harassment to the tune of Rs. 10,000/ -. The opponent is also directed to pay Rs. 1,000/ - towards the cost of litigation."
(2.) WHEN these appeals came up for hearing, no one remained present for the respondents - original complainants. We have heard the learned Advocate appearing for the appellant -original opponent Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB for short). We have gone through the impugned order.
(3.) IT would appear that both the complainants are brothers who are occupying residential premises and have their electricity connections from the opponent Gujarat Electricity Board. It would also appear that when they returned home on 19.8.2000, they found their meters removed. That resulted into lodging protest against such an illegal action on the part of the officers of the opponent GEB. While opponent GEB issued disputed bills, the complainants objected to the bills, procedure of removal of the electric meters, allegation of theft and issued notice to the opponent GEB on 9.9.2000. Opponent GEB replied to the notice on 15.2.2001, which resulted into filing of complaints before the learned Forum challenging the bills and the action of the opponent GEB. The opponent resisted the complaint inter alia on the ground that on 9.8.2000 Mr. G.H. Patel and other employees went to the site for inspection and conducted meter checking where they found that the meter seals had been cut off and rejoined. They, therefore, found that that the meters were tampered with. They accordingly removed the meters for inspection. The electricity supply was disconnected pursuant to the aforesaid action on the allegation that there was theft of electricity on the part of the complainants.;