IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) PRESENT: THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY FRIDAY, THE ELEVENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN WRIT PETITION No.3054 of 2011 Between: Neelam Raju Srinivas. … Petitioner And Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited, reptd., by its Superintending Engineer, Vidyut Bhavan, Dasannapeta, Vizianagaram, Vizianagaram District and others. … Respondents Counsel for the petitioner: Sri Y.Sudhakar. Counsel for the respondents: Smt.Jyothi Eswar Gogineni. This Court made the following: ORDER:- This Writ Petition is filed for a Mandamus to set aside Proceedings in letter No.AAO/ERO/TOWN/VZM,JAO-1/BS-III/D.No.1413/11, dated 31-12-2010, whereby he has demanded a sum of Rs.1,03,383/- towards current consumption charges, less Rs.11,858/- representing surcharge. In this Writ Petition the petitioner raised several aspects touching the facts, which cannot be gone into while exercising jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. In order to resolve the disputes of this nature, the Andhra Pradesh Regulatory Commission has constituted a Grievance Redressal Forum for each of the Distribution Companies in the State, including for respondent No.1. It is not in dispute that these Fora are effectively functioning within their respective jurisdictions. Therefore, it is appropriate for the petitioner to raise a consumer dispute before the Forum constituted for respondent No.1-Company. The learned counsel for the petitioner stated that as the Service Connection for the petitioner’s domestic service has been disconnected for non-payment of the amount demanded by the respondents, an equitable arrangement may be made, by which the power supply will be restored, and the petitioner will seek redressal of his grievance before the Forum. After hearing Smt. Jyothi Eswar Gogineni, learned Standing for the respondents, I am of the opinion that interests of justice would be met if a direction is given to the respondents to restore power supply to the petitioner’s Service Connection in the following terms: 1) The petitioner shall pay 50% of the outstanding amount; 2) immediately on such payment, the respondents shall restore power supply to the petitioner’s Service Connection; 3) within three weeks from today, the petitioner shall approach the Electricity Grievances Redressal Forum constituted for respondent No.1; 4) the Forum shall decide the petitioner’s grievance as expeditiously as possible; and 5) in default of the petitioner filing an application before the Forum within the prescribed time, the respondents shall be free to take appropriate action for recovery of the balance amount. Subject to the above directions, the Writ Petition is disposed of. ----------------------------------- ----- C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY,J Date:11-2-2011 MNR