SAI PRAKASH ALLOYS PVT. LTD. Vs. MEGHALAYA POWER DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION LTD.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appeal is directed against an order of July 25, 2022 by which the appellant's writ petition has been disposed of by affording 10 days' time to the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum for redressal of the appellant's grievance, during which period the notice for payment and disconnection will remain inoperative.

(2.) The appellant claims that the Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Redressal of Grievances) Regulations, 2007 contemplate the disposal of a complaint made to a Commission set up thereunder within a maximum period of 15 days from the date of receipt of the complaint. The appellant also refers to Regulation 10 of the said Regulations that requires a process of mediation and conciliation to be attempted before adjudication of a complaint carried to the relevant Commission. According to the appellant, a committee has been set up for such purpose and it would be prejudicial to the appellant to make payment in terms of the impugned demand notice without the process of mediation and conciliation being completed.

(3.) The appellant is aggrieved by that part of the order impugned that grants only 10 days' time for the process of adjudication to be completed by the relevant Commission as the appellant claims that such short time may not be adequate for the mediation or conciliation proceedings to be concluded.