Summary
Compensation for a delayed agricultural electricity connection was enhanced from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The applicant’s failure to submit the required test report explained the initial delay, but the electricity distributor offered no cogent explanation for the decade following submission of that report. The prolonged deprivation prevented use of a bore well and caused hardship warranting higher consumer compensation.
Issues
- Which period of delay was attributable to the electricity distributor.
- Whether Rs 2 lakh constituted fair compensation.
Held
- The distributor could not be faulted for the period before March 2005 because the applicant had not submitted the required test report. The initial application in 1996 therefore did not make the entire elapsed period actionable against the distributor. (¶ 12)
- After submission of the test report on 24 March 2005, no further steps remained for the applicant. Supply was provided only in September 2015 following the High Court proceedings; the unexplained decade of delay caused hardship and prevented activation of the agricultural bore well. (¶ 13–15)
- Rs 2 lakh was inadequate in these circumstances. Fair compensation required enhancement to Rs 5 lakh, payable within four weeks, with interest at 9% per annum in default. (¶ 16–17)
Result
Appeal allowed without costs. Compensation enhanced to Rs 5,00,000, payable within four weeks; in default, compensation to carry 9% annual interest. Pending applications disposed of.