IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.3944 of 2004 SHAHEEN JABEEN, W/o Sheikh Mujtaba Hussain, R/O Green Complex, Ashok Raj Path, Patna-4, P.S. Pirbahore, Toown & District Patna …..Petitioner. Versus 1. BIHAR STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD through its Secretary. 2. Chairman, Bihar State Electricity Board, Bihar, Patna. 3. Secretary, Bihar State Electricity Board, Patna. 4. Chief Engineer, Bihar State Electricity Board, Patna. 5. Electrical Engineer (Supply) PMCH Campus, Patna. …Respondents. ----------- 3 11.03.2011 Heard the parties. 2. The petitioner has filed the present petition raising a grievance with respect to energy bills raised against her by the respondent Bihar State Electricity Board. The petitioner is also aggrieved by inaction of the respondents in not granting her Domestic Electrical Connection for the premises in question. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner purchased the premises in question through a registered deed of sale dated 7.11.1997 and thereafter she claims to be residing there with her family members. It is the case of the petitioner that originally a coaching centre was being run by the son of the petitioner in the Ist floor of the building but, that coaching centre was closed in the month of September, 2002. Thereafter, according to the petitioner the entire premise is being used for residential purposes. Therefore, as per submissions, impugned energy bills at Annexure-1 series are required to be rectified by the competent authority of the respondent Board and further the petitioner is entitled to have separate domestic electrical connection for the premises in question. 2 4. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents has placed reliance on the averments made in the counter affidavit filed on behalf of respondents. He submits that if the petitioner is at all aggrieved by the impugned energy bills ( annexure-1 series), then she must approach the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum, constituted by the respondent Board in terms of section 42(5) of the Electricity Act 2003, (in short Act only). It is also submitted on behalf of the respondents that if the petitioner wants separate domestic electrical connection for the premises in question then she is required to submit an application in the prescribed Performa before the Assistant Electrical Engineer of the area Concerned with requisite fee and only thereafter her application shall be considered by the competent authority. 5. After having heard the parties and on consideration of their submissions, this Court is of the considered opinion that at the first instance petitioner should approach the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum, for redressal of all her grievances within a period of four weeks from today. If such a representation/complaint is filed by the petitioner within the time prescribed by this Court, then that shall be considered and disposed of on its own merit by the said Forum in accordance with law, after giving opportunity of hearing to all concerned within a period of three months from the date of filing of such a representation/complaint. 3 6. With the aforesaid observations and directions, this writ petition stands disposed of. Rahman/ ( Birendra Prasad Verma, J.)