IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN TUESDAY, THE 6TH SEPTEMBER 2011 / 15TH BHADRA 1933 WP(C).No. 24123 of 2011(M) --------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ----------------------- 1. K.S.E.BOARD,VAIDHYUTHI BHAVAN,PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,REP.BY ITS SECRETARY. 2. THE ASST.EXE.ENGINEER, K.S.E.BOARD,MAJOR SECTION, VELLORKUNNAM,MARKET P.O.MUVATTUPUZHA BY SRI.P.SANTHALINGAM, SENIOR ADVOCATE BY ADV. SRI.K.M.SATHYANATHA MENON,SC,KSEB RESPONDENT(S): -------------------------- SAIDU KUNJU, S/O.MUHAMMED, PUTHUSSERY HOUSE, PAZHAKKAPILLY P.O., MUVATTUPUZHA-686673 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 06/09/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: tss W.P.(C) NO.24123/2011 APPENDIX PETITIONER(S) EXHIBITS EXT.P1:- A TRUE COPY OF THE SHORT ASSESSMENT BILL CONSUMER NO.4928. EXT.P2:- A TRUE COPY OF THE SHORT ASSESSMENT BILL CONSUMER NO.6244 EXT.P3:- A TRUE COPY OF THE SHORT ASSESSMENT BILL CONSUMER NO.4390 EXT.P4- A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DTD. 23/9/2009 IN COMPLAINT NO.1312 2008 OF THE KERALA LOK AYUKTA.. RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS NIL:- TRUE COPY P.S. TO JUDGE tss P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. --------------------------- W.P.(C) No. 24123 OF 2011 -------------------------- Dated this the 6th day of September, 2011 J U D G M E N T Ext.P4 order passed by the Kerala Lok Ayukta on a complaint filed by the respondent herein is under challenge in this writ petition. By that order, the Lok Ayukta quashed three short assessment bills issued by the Kerala State Electricity Board (hereinafter referred to as 'the Board' for short) and restrained the Board from disconnecting electricity supply for non payment of the amount covered by the short assessment bills. The main question raised in the writ petition is that the Lok Ayukta has no jurisdiction to entertain a dispute relating to short assessment bills and that if the petitioner was aggrieved, he should have resorted to the remedies under the Indian Electricity Act, 2003 and the Regulations framed thereunder. Ext.P4 order was passed on 23.9.2009 with notice to and after hearing the Board. The Board has however not explained the long delay of nearly two years in challenging Ext.P4. I therefore find no reason to entertain the writ petition at this belated stage. I accordingly decline jurisdiction and dismiss the writ petition on the ground of delay and laches. P.N.RAVINDRAN, (JUDGE) vps WPC No./2011 2