IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR TUESDAY, THE 5TH JANUARY 2010 / 15TH POUSHA 1931 WP(C).No. 34481 of 2009(E) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- NATURE LIFE HOSPITAL, CHAMBAKKARA, VYTTILA, COCHIN-682 036, REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR SMT.MARY SHINE. BY ADV. SRI.N.N.SUGUNAPALAN, SENIOR ADVOCATE SRI.S.SUJIN SMT.NITA.N.S. RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, KERALA WATER AUTHORITY, ERNAKULAM, COCHIN. 2. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, KERALA WATER AUTHORITY, ERNAKULAM, COCHIN. 3. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, KERALA WATER AUTHORITY, JALABHAVAN, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 4. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY G.P. SHRI P.N. SANTHOSH THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 05/01/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: T.R. Ramachandran Nair, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P.(C) No. 34481 of 2009-E - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 5th day of January, 2010. JUDGMENT The petitioner is a hospital engaged in the treatment of nature cure. Aggrieved by the bills issued by the first respondent, viz. Exts.P3 to P8(a) and Exts.P10 and P10(a), this writ petition has been filed. It is the case of the petitioner that exorbitant amounts have been charged in the bills and actually those amounts are not legally due. While admitting the writ petition, this Court passed an interim order to deposit 1/4th of the amounts covered by the impugned demand and accordingly disconnection was ordered to be stayed. 2. Heard learned Standing Counsel for the Water Authority. It is submitted that the petitioner has got an effective remedy of approaching the second respondent who is the Appellate Authority. Ext.P6 is the representation now filed by the petitioner before the first respondent. Therefore, the petitioner will have to file a proper appeal before the second respondent and if such an appeal is filed within a period of three weeks from today, the same will be entertained and the second respondent will take a proper decision after hearing the petitioner, within a further period of wpc 34481/09 2 four months from the date of receipt of the appeal. Since the petitioner has already remitted 1/4th of the demand as per the interim order passed by this Court, further recovery will be kept in abeyance till the appeal is disposed of. The writ petition is disposed of as above. No costs. (T.R. Ramachandran Nair, Judge.) kav/